Galderma's Relfydess: A Ready-to-Use Toxin Shaking Up the Aesthetics Market

MADRID, Spain – January 14, 2026 – The highly competitive landscape of aesthetic medicine is being closely watched this week as dermatology giant Galderma presents a compelling new body of evidence for its neuromodulator portfolio at the TOXINS 2026 International Conference. While data on its established product, Dysport, reinforces its market position, all eyes are on Relfydess, a novel injectable poised to disrupt the multi-billion-dollar industry with its unique "ready-to-use" liquid formulation.

The presentations in Madrid offer the first detailed look at new clinical analyses that support Relfydess's claims of rapid onset, long-lasting results, and a streamlined user experience, signaling a significant strategic push by Galderma to claim a leadership position in the injectable aesthetics space.

The Rise of Ready-to-Use Injectables

For decades, the preparation of neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport has been a standard, if cumbersome, part of the practitioner's routine. The products arrive as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder that must be meticulously reconstituted with saline before injection. This process, while routine, introduces variables that can affect dosage accuracy and product potency, and it adds a critical time-consuming step to every patient appointment.

Relfydess (RelabotulinumtoxinA) directly challenges this paradigm. As the first and only ready-to-use liquid neuromodulator to gain marketing authorization in major markets, it eliminates the reconstitution step entirely. This innovation is made possible by Galderma's proprietary PEARL Technology, a manufacturing process reportedly 15 years in the making. This technology is designed to stabilize the active botulinum toxin molecule in a liquid state, preserving its integrity without the complexing proteins found in some traditional formulations.

The move to a liquid, complex-free formulation is more than a matter of convenience. Industry experts suggest it addresses a clear market demand for greater efficiency and consistency. Eliminating reconstitution reduces preparation time, minimizes the risk of human error in dosing, and ensures that the potency of the product is consistent from the vial to the syringe. "Products that genuinely differentiate themselves are what truly excite the field," noted one lead investigator of a major neuromodulator clinical trial, emphasizing the industry's shift away from "me-too" products. The liquid formulation segment is already a dominant force, and a product that is inherently liquid and requires no mixing is a logical and potentially powerful next step in its evolution.

Unpacking the Clinical Evidence

Galderma is backing its technological innovation with a robust set of clinical data at TOXINS 2026. Encore analyses from the pivotal READY Phase III program provide a deeper look into the product's performance. For the treatment of moderate-to-severe glabellar lines (frown lines), investigator-assessed responder rates exceeded 98% one month after treatment. For lateral canthal lines (crow’s feet), the responder rate was over 88%.

Perhaps most compelling is the data on duration. The new analyses confirm a median time of over 24 weeks—approximately six months—for patients to return to baseline severity for both frown lines and crow’s feet. This places Relfydess in direct competition with Revance's Daxxify, another long-acting neuromodulator that has been disrupting the traditional three-to-four-month treatment cycle. Furthermore, the data highlights a rapid onset of action, with up to 39% of patients reporting visible effects as early as day one and up to 75% maintaining improvements at the six-month mark.

To address practitioner questions about how the product behaves once injected, Galderma is also presenting results from an in-vivo head-to-head study in a rat model. The findings showed that Relfydess had similar and limited levels of diffusion when compared to OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox), suggesting a predictable and controlled effect. This is a critical point for practitioners who rely on precise injection techniques to achieve desired results and avoid unwanted side effects. "As the only company with a portfolio of neuromodulators, we’re building on our heritage in the space by developing next-generation solutions," said Baldo Scassellati Sforzolini, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head of R&D at Galderma, in the company's official statement.

A Strategic Play in a Crowded Market

The launch of Relfydess is a clear strategic maneuver by Galderma to capture a larger share of the fiercely competitive global neuromodulator market, which is projected to surpass $15 billion by 2030. The company is now uniquely positioned as the only major player with a portfolio of two distinct neuromodulators: the well-established Dysport and the innovative Relfydess.

This dual-product strategy allows Galderma to compete on multiple fronts. Dysport continues to be a workhorse in many practices, and new data presented at the conference from a real-world study in China showing up to 100% patient satisfaction reinforces its value and reliability. Relfydess, meanwhile, enters the market as a premium, high-tech option targeting practitioners and patients who prioritize convenience, consistency, and long-lasting results.

This positions Galderma to challenge market leaders, including AbbVie's Botox, the long-reigning gold standard, and Merz's Xeomin, which also markets itself as a purified neurotoxin free of complexing proteins. The most direct challenge, however, appears aimed at Revance's Daxxify, which made waves with its six-month duration claim. Relfydess now matches that duration while adding the significant differentiator of a ready-to-use liquid format.

Galderma has been strategic with its global rollout, having already secured marketing authorization in Australia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as successfully completing the European decentralized procedure, paving the way for launches across Europe in 2025. While it remains an investigational product in the United States, its progress in other key regions signals a determined global push.

Redefining the Patient and Practitioner Experience

Ultimately, the success of Relfydess will depend on its real-world impact. The combination of a rapid onset and a six-month duration directly addresses two of the most common patient requests: fast results that last longer, potentially reducing the number of annual office visits from three or four to just two. "We're excited about the sustained efficacy and high satisfaction for six months," commented one clinical professor involved in the trials, noting that it "addresses a real patient need for fast-acting and long-lasting results with two treatments a year."

For aesthetic practitioners, the benefits are centered on workflow and precision. The elimination of reconstitution is a significant time-saver in a busy clinic, allowing for more patient consultations or simply a more efficient workday. The assurance of a consistent, pre-mixed dose from a standardized vial enhances predictability, which is paramount in a field where artistry and science intersect. This focus on the entire treatment experience, from preparation to patient outcome, reflects a broader trend in aesthetic medicine.

As Galderma hosts masterclasses and shares its data in Madrid, the conversation is shifting beyond just the molecule itself to the technology surrounding its delivery. The company's investment in a product that is not only clinically effective but also fundamentally easier and more reliable to use demonstrates a keen understanding of the market's evolving demands. As practitioners and patients increasingly prioritize both efficacy and convenience, the battle for market leadership will likely be won not just in the lab, but in the treatment room itself.