Botulinum Toxin: An Update on Pharmacology and Newer Products in Development |
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| Authors: | Supriyo Choudhury Mark R. Baker Suparna Chatterjee Hrishikesh Kumar |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurosciences Kolkata, Kolkata 700017, India; (S.C.); (S.C.);2.Departments of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK;3.Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK;4.Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata 700020, India |
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| Abstract: | Since its introduction as a treatment for strabismus, botulinum toxin (BoNT) has had a phenomenal journey and is now recommended as first-line treatment for focal dystonia, despite short-term clinical benefits and the risks of adverse effects. To cater for the high demand across various medical specialties, at least six US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved formulations of BoNT are currently available for diverse labelled indications. The toxo-pharmacological properties of these formulations are not uniform and thus should not be used interchangeably. Synthetic BoNTs and BoNTs from non-clostridial sources are not far from clinical use. Moreover, the study of mutations in naturally occurring toxins has led to modulation in the toxo-pharmacokinetic properties of BoNTs, including the duration and potency. We present an overview of the toxo-pharmacology of conventional and novel BoNT preparations, including those awaiting imminent translation from the laboratory to the clinic. |
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| Keywords: | botulinum toxin dystonia recombinant botulinum toxin acetylcholine neuromuscular blockade |
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