New Treatment for Excessive Perspiration Approved By US FDA

A new treatment for primary axillary hyperhidrosis called Qbrexza (glycopyrronium) has been approved by the US Food And Drug Administration (FDA).

Dermira, the pharmaceutical company that produced the treatment, gained the approval last month based on results from two Phase 3 clinical trials that assessed the safety and effectiveness of the drug.

Qbrexza is a topical anticholinergic towelette that is meant for a single daily use. It blocks sweat production by preventing activation of the sweat glands. It is also approved in patients aged nine and older.

Chairman and chief executive officer at Dermira, Tom Wiggans, stated in a press release, “For years, dermatologists have been telling us of the need for new treatment options that address primary axillary hyperhidrosis, given the stigma and burden associated with this condition.”

Excessive sweating is a real condition that affects almost 10 million people in the U.S.

“This isn’t just a cosmetic condition. I’ve had patients that don’t want to go to their kids’ graduation because they are worried that they are going to sweat so much that they are going to sweat through their clothing or they can’t shake people’s hands because they are dripping,” said Dr. Michele S. Green, a board-certified dermatologist.
“Unless you’ve experienced it or seen patients who suffer from it, it may seem like it’s not a big deal to people, but it really is. A lot of people are just devastated by it,” she added.

However, Qbrexza has a few side effects, including dry skin, blurred vision, dry eye, dry nose, headache and sore throat. More serious side effects include problems in the regulation of body temperature and aggravating urinary retention.

Since sweating is important in the regulation of the body’s temperature, patients who use Qbrexza may be prone to heat stroke on a hot weather.

Currently, there are some treatment options available for excessive sweating, such as antiperspirants, although they can cause discoloration and stains on clothing.

Botox is another common treatment, but it requires periodical injections.

“Botox works, but it’s not 100 percent and we have to redo it every three to six months, depending on how much you are sweating. So, that’s not ideal for some patients because it’s expensive and they have to come back,” said to Dr. Green.

Other alternatives include lasers and microwave technology like (miraDry) that was approved by the U.S. FDA in 2015.

But Qbrexza may have an edge over other current treatments because it’s simple to use.

According to Lisa J. Pieretti, executive director and co-founder of the International Hyperhidrosis Society, “With the FDA approval of Qbrexza, hyperhidrosis sufferers finally have a new medication option to help manage their excessive, uncontrollable sweating.”