A "natural Botox" product is being created by a Scottish start-up firm in a deal with an unnamed European medical device manufacturer.

Burdica Biomed is part of the Edinburgh Pre-Incubator Scheme—the University of Edinburgh-based program designed to promote and support innovation and entrepreneurs—and will provide the base material for an injectable gel filler that can be used for lip enhancement and wrinkle reduction.

The product should become available commercially next year and will allow the firm to break into the $750 million global market for dermal fillers, according to the company.

Burdica's material is based on hyaluronic acid (HA), and the firm claims its product will be manufactured to make its effect on users longer-lasting and its dosage more controllable.

The product, which has not yet been trademarked, will first be distributed in Europe through a number of channels, likely to include physicians and dentists.

Burdica launched in October 2007 and aims to be profitable within 18 months.

Source: Dentistry UK