Efficacy and Safety of a New Botulinum Toxin (HU-014) Versus Existing Onabotulinumtoxin A in Subjects With Moderate to Severe Glabellar Lines

BACKGROUND Recently, the safety of a new botulinum toxin (HU-014) was confirmed through animal experiments. The evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this newly introduced botulinum toxin is required considering the risk of adverse events (AEs) and need for standardization before its universal use. OBJECTIVE The aim of this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel, active-controlled phase III clinical trial was to investigate the noninferiority of HU-014 versus existing onabotulinumtoxin A for the treatment of moderate to severe glabellar lines. METHODS In total, 267 subjects were randomized to either the test (HU-014) or control (onabotulinumtoxin A) group. At the baseline and at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16, investigator's live assessment, independent photographic assessment, subjects' improvement assessment, subjects' satisfaction assessment, and safety assessment were performed. RESULTS At week 4, the response rate was 90.15% and 92.31% in the test and control groups, respectively, as per investigator's live assessment while frowning, without a significant difference. Both groups also showed no significant differences in response rates in the other assessments. In addition, no serious AEs were reported. CONCLUSION HU-014 was noninferior to existing onabotulinumtoxin A in the treatment of glabellar lines at a 1:1 dose ratio, and both products were well tolerated.