Allergan wrinkle cream problems reported

Allergan’s wrinkle-fighting injections – known as dermal fillers – have seen “serious and unexpected” problems reported to the US Food and Drug Administation (FDA).

The agency said in a statement that it had received a total of 930 accounts, with complications including disfigurement, facial palsy, “severe allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock”.

It did however add that many included known problems, such as minor swelling.

As a result of the reports, the FDA has said that it will look into them and look for patterns.

Dermal fillers that have been alleged to cause problems include Allergan’s Juvederm, Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp’s Perlane and Restylane and Radiesse by Bioform Medical.

Following the FDA’s announcement, shares in Allergan fell 8.5 per cent to $35.66 (23.87 pounds), with Medicis seeing a drop of 7.7 per cent and Bioform Medical losing 15 per cent.

Allergan spokeswoman Caroline Van Hove told Reuters that no serious problems were seen in clinical trials of Juvederm, with 0.4 per cent of patients seeing swelling – the most common complaint.

She added: “Juvederm has a highly favourable safety profile based on long-term use and volume.”

Formed in 1948 – following the creation of Allergan Nasal Drops – the company specialises in neurosciences, eye care, medical aesthetics, medical dermatology, obesity intervention and urologics.