US CDC warns of harmful reactions to fake Botox injections

(Reuters) -The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday alerted clinicians about risks of counterfeit versions of AbbVie's Botox that were given to consumers for cosmetic purposes in multiple states.

A total of 22 people from 11 U.S. states reported adverse effects after receiving Botox injections from unlicensed or untrained individuals, or in non-healthcare settings such as homes and spas, as of April 18, according to the CDC.

States reporting these reactions include California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York City, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

The CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state and local partners are investigating reports of harmful reactions among people who received injections of counterfeit Botox.

Symptom onset dates ranged from Nov. 4, 2023 to March 2024-end. All symptomatic patients were females aged 25 to 59 years.

Eleven patients were hospitalized and none have died, the agency said.

The FDA had alerted healthcare professionals and consumers over unsafe, fake Botox injections last week. The agency is currently working with manufacturer AbbVie to identify and remove suspected counterfeit Botox products found in the United States.

AbbVie did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment.

(Reporting by Pratik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)