On July 6, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Endo Global Aesthetics Limited’s Qwo™ for the treatment of moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of adult women. QWO is the first FDA-approved injectable treatment for cellulite.

Cellulite is a localized alteration in the contour of the skin that has been reported in over 90 percent of post-pubertal females and affects women of all races and ethnicities. Although the appearance of cellulite is not a pathological phenomenon, for many women, this will still cause troubles for them. In addition, weight gain can make cellulite more noticeable, but cellulite may be present even in thin subjects. While cellulite is known to be a multifactorial condition, a primary contributing factor is the fibrous connective tissue, called the “fibrous septae,” which connect the skin perpendicularly to the fascia below. These fibrous septae tether the skin, drawing it downward and leading to a mattress-like appearance, commonly referred to as “dimpling.” Although there are various treatment methods such as exercise, massage, topical therapy and other treatments to try to treat cellulite, prior to QWO, there was no FDA approved injection therapy on the market.

QWO (collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes) is a combination of bacterial collagenases AUX-I and AUX-II, in an approximate 1:1 mass ratio, which are isolated and purified from the fermentation of Clostridium histolyticum bacteria. The approved QWO for injection is a sterile, preservative-free, lyophilized powder (appearing as a white cake) in single-dose vials for subcutaneous use. When injected into the treatment area, QWO is thought to release the fibrous septae enzymatically by specifically targeting the two types of collagens, which may result in smoothing of the skin and an improved appearance of cellulite.

Endo Aesthetics is embarking on a mission devoted to pushing the boundaries of aesthetic artistry. Headquartered in Malvern, PA, Endo Aesthetics is an affiliate of Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP), the latter commenced operations in 1997 by acquiring certain pharmaceutical products, related rights and assets from The DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company.

It is believed that, QWO will be a game-changer for women with cellulite. Many will be thrilled there will now be an FDA-approved injectable treatment option proven to address a root cause of cellulite. What is exciting about QWO is that it is a cutting-edge cellulite treatment, without the cutting. QWO is expected to be available throughout the United States at aesthetic healthcare practitioner’s offices starting in Spring 2021.