ORTHO GIVEN NOD BY FDA TO SELL ANTIAGING CREAM
NEW YORK — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the go-ahead for Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp. to market Renova, a prescription strength antiaging cream that will be sold in drugstores next month.
Developed by the Dermatological Division of Ortho, which is owned by Johnson & Johnson, Renova was designed to reduce fine lines, brown spots and skin roughness. The main ingredient is tretinoin, a vitamin A derivative that occurs naturally in the body. It is thought to affect cell growth in every layer of the skin.
According to the company, alpha hydroxy acid products, which have constituted the most popular category of skin care products during the last three years, work primarily on the skin’s surface to remove dead cells.
Renova will be sold in 40-gram tubes at an average retail price of $60, according to a statement by Ortho. One tube is expected to last four to six months, meaning that the cost of treatment will average $10 to $15 per month.