FDA Approves BELOTERO Balance®: Success of a Promising Partnership Between Anteis and Merz Aesthetics

GENEVA and PLAN-LES-OUATES, Switzerland, November 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

BELOTERO Balance® has now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for injection into the mid-to-deep dermis to correct moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles and folds such as nasolabial folds. BELOTERO Balance® is a hyaluronic acid-based cohesive gel dermal filler that delivers natural-looking results with little recovery time. "We are pleased to announce this FDA approval for BELOTERO Balance®. It represents a significant milestone for Anteis and Merz Aesthetics, Inc.", stated Gilles Bos, Chief Executive Officer of Anteis and Dennis Condon, President and CEO of Merz Aesthetics, Inc.

Practitioners and patients will now have a breakthrough alternative in aesthetic medicine with BELOTERO Balance® "thanks to a successful partnership between Anteis, a Swiss leader in aesthetic dermatology, ophthalmology and orthopaedics, and Merz Aesthetics, a division of Merz Pharmaceuticals in Germany", added Gilles Bos and Dennis Condon.

Since 2004, this partnership has encompassed the BELOTERO Balance® range in markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austria and Switzerland. This medical device is currently approved for aesthetic use and distributed worldwide by Anteis under the brand name of Esthélis^[TM]Basic.  

This collaboration between Anteis and Merz Aesthetics provides new market opportunities worth an estimated $372.4 million in the North America market for dermal fillers^[1]

"Through our partnership with Anteis, Merz Aesthetics has been able to add a new brand to its expanding portfolio of aesthetics products in the United States", added Dennis Condon.

"This partnership forms an important part of our plans to become a global player in Sodium Hyaluronate-based injectable formulations and injection technologies (such as the Anteis Injection System) in dermatology, and to provide breakthrough and innovative health solutions in the fields of ophthalmology, orthopaedics and beyond. With the support of our highly skilled team, and through partnerships with pharmaceutical, biotech and cosmetics companies, we will extend our reach, increase our international sales, and continue to grow in terms of new indications and a broader portfolio. Our ultimate goal is for healthcare practitioners to feel confident that our products constitute best practice, and for patients to feel they are receiving optimum care," concluded Gilles Bos.  

About Anteis

Since it was founded in 2003, ANTEIS has become one of the leaders in the development, production and distribution of injectable medical devices. The company now has an established reputation in the field of aesthetic dermatology, particularly with its line of dermal wrinkle fillers (Esthélis^[TM]Basic/ BELOTERO Balance®), and continues to launch innovative products every year. Thanks to its vast Research and Development programme, ANTEIS provides added value in the fields of aesthetic dermatology, ophthalmology and orthopaedics. The company has received many awards for its innovations, including the Swiss Economic Award in May 2008 and the Red Dot Design Award in April 2010.

Based in Geneva, ANTEIS employs an international team of 150 people, has operating subsidiaries in France and in Germany and a distribution network covering more than 98 countries.

For further information, go to: http://www.anteis.com

About Merz Aesthetics

Merz Aesthetics, Inc. is a division of the German-based company Merz Pharmaceuticals. The Merz Aesthetics Business Unit has subsidiaries in 17 countries and cooperates with more than 30 distributors worldwide.

Founded in 1908 by Friedrich Merz, the company introduced the world's first anti-wrinkle treatment in 1953 after extensive research on the effects of revitalizing skin care essences. As part of the Merz Pharma Group of companies, Merz Aesthetics leverages more than a century of Merz's healthcare expertise with its range of products and unparalleled services in the field of aesthetic dermatology. The Merz legacy continues today with Merz Aesthetics' innovative portfolio of products which are designed to empower consumers to achieve their personalized beauty ideals.

Merz Aesthetics' has a balanced portfolio of products in the US which includes its flagship brand, RADIESSE^® Volumizing Filler as well as other aesthetic products. Outside the US, the portfolio comprises the BELOTERO® family of fillers, RADIESSE®Volumizing Filler and other product brands.

1. Source: Medical Insight, Global Aesthetic Market VIII, 2010