Latisse, the world's first prescription for eyelash growth, is expected to be approved

Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee recommended the approval of Allergan's Latisse, a drug that promotes longer, thicker eyelashes.

Latisse is the twin sister of Lumigan, a glaucoma treatment drug. Lumigan eye drops were approved by the FDA in 2001. In the trial, 137 subjects received Latisse and 141 subjects received a placebo solution for 16 weeks. The results showed that the subjects in the Latisse group had longer, thicker, darker eyelashes at the end of the trial, and they stated that they were more satisfied with their eyelashes than the placebo group.

The FDA advisory board recommends that subsequent studies should be conducted in specific populations such as adolescents and patients with lashes due to chemotherapy. Latisse is expected to be approved as a prescription drug in 2009.