Glaucoma Drug Boosts Eyelashes, FDA Panel Says

A glaucoma drug appears to have another use: Making eyelashes longer, darker, and fuller.

Allergan, the maker of the blockbuster cosmetic drug Botox, wants the Food and Drug Administration to approve its Lumigan glaucoma drug for use as an eyelash booster. The drug maker got preliminary approval this week from an FDA advisory panel, which voted to allow Allergan to move forward with company trials to determine whether the drug is safe for use on eye lashes.

The FDA is not required to follow its panel’s recommendation, although it most often does. The agency could approve the new use of the drug sometime in 2009, officials said.

Allergan has said it plans to market the eyelash drug under the brand name Latisse. In company trials, the drug has been shown to grow, darken, and thicken eyelashes with daily use of the liquid formula applied directly to the lashes. The company estimates Latisse could earn Allergan about $500 million a year in sales.

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