Xeomin® (incobotulinum toxin type A) is a major competitor of Botox® (onabotulinum toxin type A), the first approved cosmetic treatment derived from botulinum toxin type A.

The distinctions between Botox and Xeomin are significant from providers’ and patients’ perspectives and should not be minimized. However, the two medications have much in common, starting with the obvious fact that they are both derived from the same potent neurotoxin. Despite important differences in molecular composition, indications, storage protocols, cost, and more, we should not minimize their similarities. Moreover, the choice to use Botox over Xeomin (or vice versa) in situations where either is indicated often comes down to patient and provider preference.

That being said, Xeomin and Botox are by no means interchangeable or identical. It is vital for physicians and aestheticians trained in the cosmetic and/or therapeutic use of Botox and other botulinum toxin-derived medications to understand the differences between them.

Botox Vs. Xeomin: Background and Indications Botox and Xeomin have both been approved for clinical use in the United States since before 2010. Both are derived from botulinum toxin A and are approved for the treatment of multiple cosmetic and musculoskeletal conditions. They are competitors: Botox is manufactured by Allergan; Xeomin is produced by Merz.

Botox: History and Indications Botox (onabotulinum toxin A) is the “original” botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) treatment and remains the most popular with patients and practitioners around the world.

Approved by the FDA for human testing in 1978 as “oculinum,” the medication received its first formal FDA approvals in 1989 for the treatment of strabismus and blepharospasm, two relatively common conditions involving the eye muscles. In 1991, its official name was changed to onabotulinumtoxin-A.

During the early 21st century, the FDA approved Botox for treatment of a variety of cosmetic and musculoskeletal conditions. Among others, these included:

• Cervical dystonia (2000)
• Glabellar lines (2002)
• Chronic migraine (2012)
• Lateral canthal rhytids (2013)
• Overactive bladder (2015)
• Forehead rhytids (2017)

Botox comes in two varieties: Botox Cosmetic and Botox Therapeutic. The former is used to treat cosmetic conditions like forehead lines, frown lines, and other fine lines and wrinkles. The latter is used to treat musculoskeletal and nervous system issues such as cervical dystonia and overactive bladder. Notably, Botox is regarded as safe and effective for a number of “off-label” treatments not listed here, including bruxism (involuntary jaw clenching).

Xeomin: History and Indications

Xeomin (incobotulinum toxin A) is a U.S.-made treatment free of the complexing proteins found in other botulinum toxin preparations (including Botox). Branded outside the United States as Bocouture®, incobotulinum toxin A is in widespread therapeutic use globally. In 2010, Xeomin was approved by the FDA for the treatment of cervical dystonia.

Today, Xeomin is a principal competitor of Botox. Following FDA approval for treatment of cervical dystonia, it received approval for treatment of muscle spasticity, blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm, and glabellar complex. Its range of FDA-approved indications is narrower than Botox’s; however, like Botox, it can be used safely and effectively for a broader mix of off-label indications.

Statistics, Treatment & Benefits

Both Botox and Xeomin are produced from the same strain of C. botulinum (Hall) using the same isolation methods. Their respective pH values are identical (+/- 7) but they use different excipients (humin albumin with sodium chloride and human albumin with sucrose, respectively) and formulation methods (vacuum drying and lyophilization, respectively).

Statistics

Botox and Xeomin have different complex molecular weights (kDa): 900 and 200-300, respectively. For providers familiar with Botox, this is a slight disadvantage of Xeomin over the newer competitor Jeuveau (prabotulinum toxin A), which has a molecular weight identical to Botox and therefore easier to dose-calculate. Both Botox and Xeomin come in 50/100 unit packages and both are comparably priced on a per-unit basis.

Treatment and Benefits

Botox and Xeomin are both delivered via intramuscular injection in accordance with treatment-specific procedures. At comparable dilution, Xeomin may diffuse farther, making it appropriate for larger muscle groups and treatment areas.

Xeomin injections may take longer than Botox injections for effects to become apparent (three to as many as seven days versus two to five days) but this is somewhat patient- and context-dependent. Xeomin and Botox remain effective for comparable lengths of time, depending on dosing and treatment region.

One notable advantage of Xeomin is ease of storage. Unlike Botox and most other botulinum A toxin competitors, Xeomin does not need to be refrigerated before use. This makes it easier for low-overhead providers to use and for other providers to trial its use in clinical settings.

Another notable advantage of Xeomin is the absence of protein additives. While more study needs to be done, this may reduce the risk of patients developing antibodies against the medication and render it more effective than Botox and other BoNT-A treatments for repeat use.

Contraindications and Exclusion Criteria

Botox and Xeomin are both regarded by the FDA and other national health authorities as safe, effective treatments for a variety of indicated conditions. However, like all medications, they are not appropriate in all scenarios. Botulinum treatments are not appropriate for any patients deemed “at risk” due to underlying chronic medical conditions or use of medications that may interact unfavorably with the toxin.

When to Exclude Candidates for Botox or Xeomin Treatment

Patients should be excluded from treatment with Botox or Xeomin if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Any “at risk” condition that requires medical monitoring, such as myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome
• Certain chronic underlying health conditions, such as diabetes (Type 1 or 2), rheumatoid arthritis, or congestive heart failure
• Known allergy or sensitivity to any component of the medication, including botulinum toxin itself or albumin, sucrose, or lactose
• Marked facial asymmetry, ptosis, or other anatomical defects
• Known history of facial palsy
• Skin infection at or near the planned treatment site
• Known pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or breastfeeding

Additionally, patients taking certain medications should be excluded from Botox or Xeomin treatment:

• Anticoagulants like warfarin
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics
• Muscle relaxers and other classes of drugs that may increase the toxin’s potency
• Certain classes of drugs that interfere with the action of the toxin on the muscles or neutralize the toxin itself

Finally, while there is no recommended age limit above which botulinum A treatment is contraindicated, providers should carefully weigh older patients’ wants and needs against the treatment’s known risks and the increased likelihood of medical contraindications in this population.

Botox Vs. Xeomin: Which Should You Choose?

Botox and Xeomin have many subtle differences that make each more or less appropriate in different settings, but we should not lose sight of the fact that both are regarded as safe, effective treatments for a variety of cosmetic and musculoskeletal issues. Both have earned a place in the procedural repertoire of any well-rounded physician or aesthetician trained to treat the conditions for which they are indicated. In the end, each provider’s preference is just that — a matter of preference.