The FDA recently issued a warning to Merz Pharmaceuticals over an Instagram advertisement promoting their Botox competitor, Xeomin.
The ad drew attention for suggesting that Xeomin is free from additives and more “natural,” implying a potential advantage over Botox. However, the FDA highlighted that the post DID NOT include critical information on possible side effects and precautions, which could mislead consumers about the product’s safety profile.
According to the FDA’s letter, the advertisement violated regulations by overstating benefits without appropriately disclosing risks. This omission could lead to misinterpretations about Xeomin’s safety, potentially endangering consumer trust. While the specific Instagram post has since been removed following the FDA’s warning, the incident serves as a reminder for medspa owners and aesthetic professionals about the importance of compliance in advertising, particularly with medical products.
In an increasingly competitive landscape, where brands strive to differentiate their offerings, ensuring that marketing claims are both accurate and balanced is crucial—not just to avoid regulatory action but to maintain credibility and client trust.
For those interested in the full details, you can view the FDA’s official warning letter here, and read further coverage of this issue on Fierce Pharma.
If you are unsure what you can and can not say and what you can and can not do when it comes to marketing and advertising your treatments and medspa, go to Navigating Advertising Compliance in the Medspa Industry: What You Need To Know for an outline and cheat sheet.
