Oxymetazoline hydrochloride honored by Allure magazine

Oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.1% (UpNeeq, RVL Pharmaceuticals) has been recognized by Allure magazine as one of the 2021 winners of its Best of Beauty Breakthrough Awards.

Oxymetazoline hydrochloride is useful for more than just treating acquired blepharoptosis and the drug can be used for ocular pathologies that cause blepharoptosis. It is a topical ophthalmic medication approved to treat acquired blepharoptosis as an alternative to surgical intervention.

The formulation also is effective for treating patients with etiologies that can result in blepharoptosis, ie, blepharoptosis associated with ocular surgery, myotonic muscular dystrophy, and Bell’s palsy.

In its announcement, Allure noted that the solution temporarily lifts eyelids that have drooped due to acquired ptosis, a detachment of the eyelid muscle that can happen with age.

Oxymetazoline hydrochloride is an FDA-approved prescription eyedrop for the treatment of acquired blepharoptosis (low-lying lids) in adults, making it an option to ptosis correction surgery.

"UpNeeq is, in my opinion, the best nonsurgical solution for acquired ptosis," says Bruce Moskowitz, MD, an assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, who has been prescribing it for over six months, told Allure.

Oxymetazoline hydrochloride, stimulates receptors on the eyelid’s muscles, resulting in a contraction of those muscles.

Moskowitz told the publication it has been used safely for years as a nasal decongestant, though the concentration in the ophthalmic application is far lower.

The onset of action of oxymetazoline was fast, beginning 5 minutes after instillation, and results lasted for about 8 hours. Whether it can be dosed again after 8 hours has not been studied.

According to a news release, the editors at Allure spend months reviewing clinical data and gathering opinions from independent judges, evaluating the quality of the product and determining whether it is truly a breakthrough. It gave out 7 awards this year.

“We present seven of the most revolutionary innovations we’ve ever seen — ones that have changed the way we approach beauty,” the publication said in a statement. “These new products boggled our editors’ minds and forever changed our beauty routines.”

Ray Douglas, MD, an aesthetic reconstructive and oculoplastic specialist and Global Head of Scientific Affairs for RVL Pharmaceuticals, said the company was grateful to receive the honor and pleased to see its product recognized.

“Until UpNeeq, there was no pharmacologic treatment on the market,” he said in a statement. “RVL is passionate about continuing to provide novel solutions for both vision and aesthetics.”