A new injectable treatment aimed at reducing or eliminating the double chin could be an option in the future. The drug, called ATX-101, contains a synthetic version of deoxycholic acid which is naturally produced by the body to get rid of fat.
According to the developer KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, the chemical specifically targets submental fat, which is found in the double chin and is difficult to reduce through diet and exercise.
While the drug reportedly destroys submental fat cells, it is supposed to leave the surrounding tissue unaffected.
The company conducted clinical trials on 1,600 patients across the U.S. and Europe with 90 percent of participants experiencing a “meaningful reduction of the fat after two years.”
KYTHERA submitted the new drug application for ATX-101 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2014, and its review is scheduled to be completed by this May. Should the drug be approved by the FDA, it would be the first of its kind on the market.
Currently, liposuction surgery is one of the primary methods to remove a double chin.
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