Allergan launches hybrid injectable that stimulates collagen production
On September 20, Allergan Aesthetics, announced its entry into the hybrid injectables market with the launch of HArmonyCa™ with the anaesthetic, Lidocaine.
Allergan’s first dual-effect product, HArmonyCa combines two active ingredients - hyaluronic acid (HA) and calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) - in one injection.
HArmonyCa is formulated for facial soft tissue augmentation via injection into deep dermal and sub-dermal layers of the skin.
The treatment is intended to provide an immediate lifting effect from the HA combined with a sustained lifting effect from CaHA which is known to help stimulate collagen making it a suitable treatment for those exhibiting sings of ageing.
The cross-linked HA gel is mouldable to allow aesthetic practitioners to adjust the implant shape after injecting while the CaHA microspheres that work to support the body’s own collagen production, the loss of which occurs as we age and leads to wrinkle formation.
With HArmonyCa “newly formed collagen fibres may be present as early as one week following treatment,” says Allergan.
In a recent clinical study, 86% of 85 treated regions among 48 patients showed clinically significant improvement with over 90% of patients registering an improvement in general appearance of facial areas treated with HArmonyCa. The study also demonstrated that the product has a low risk-benefit profile.
The majority of patients reported high user satisfaction (mean 4.1 out of 5) for overall satisfaction, and likeliness to repeat similar treatment up to 19 months after receiving HArmonyCa.
“The texture of the skin changes as we age, and laxity or sagging can become a problem. Hyaluronic acid may help by providing an immediate lift, while calcium hydroxyapatite may be used to improve facial skin architecture and is associated with a sustained lifting effect from new collagen production,” says leading UK aesthetics practitioner, Dr Sophie Shotter.
“The combination of HA and CaHA in one treatment is an exciting new option for patients and aesthetic practitioners alike.”
At Allergan’s London launch event for HArmonyCa, Dr Shotter showed attendees a before and after case study of a middle aged woman who had received the product in various points across her face. The case study spanned over several months which allowed Dr Shotter to show how the product produces results that “get better over time.”
She also explained how the use of lidocaine in the formulation made treatments a lot more comfortable for patients.
“The launch of HArmonyCa with Lidocaine represents Allergan Aesthetics’ continued commitment to providing the latest innovations and treatments for patients,” says Allergan Aesthetics general manager, Djamshid Ghavami.
“We are driven by leading-edge science and are continually looking to diversify our portfolio by pushing the boundaries of what non-surgical treatments can offer. We are delighted to introduce our first hybrid injectable to market and believe its potential to offer immediate lift from hyaluronic acid with the lasting collagen stimulation associated with calcium hydroxyapatite may answer some of the multi-dimensional needs of ageing skin.”
HArmonyCa was originally developed in Israel and has been commercially available in Brazil, Israel and Ukraine. Having now secured a CE mark, it is being launched across Europe and in select EEMEA countries. Allergan Aesthetics says it will continue to work with appropriate regulatory authrorities around the world to make the product more widely available in the future.
The aesthetics giant, which also makes Juvéderm facial fillers and CoolSculpting bodycontouring treatment, says it will provide a range of in-person and virtual training packages to support medical professionals who wish to offer HArmonyCa with Lidocaine to their patients.