Varicose veins, which afflict many men and women as they age, can be painful as well as unsightly for some. | Image source: Media for Medical/UIG via Getty Images via NYDailyNews.com
Lovers of short skirts, rejoice: A new treatment for varicose veins has been approved in the U.S., its maker says.
British pharmaceutical firm BTG announced this week that its treatment, Varithena — previously known as Varisolve — has been given Food and Drug Administration approval.
Varithena uses an injectible foam to dissolve veins as an alternative to surgical removal, Reuters reported.
Speaking to Reuters on Tuesday, the company's chief executive Louise Makin said the product would set a new standard for the treatment of both the symptoms and appearance of varicose veins.
"We look forward to the commercial U.S. launch in the second quarter of 2014, and to continuing to advance our plans to expand use into other geographies and into non-symptomatic veins," she said.
Varicose veins — the twisted, enlarged and sometimes painful veins near the surface of skin that typically form on legs and feet — can show up with age, because of genetic disposition, or due to other factors like obesity, pregnancy, or having to stand for long periods of time. They affect more than 30 million adults aged 18 to 70 in the U.S., with women twice as likely as men to develop the condition.
Current treatments include surgically stripping or closing the vein using laser or heat treatments.
BTG said Varithena was minimally invasive and avoided the need for surgery and sedation, Reuters reported. The company's guidance for the product focuses on the medical market, but analysts told the news agency that cosmetic use could also present a "significant opportunity."
The company had worked for 10 years to obtain FDA approval.
With News Wire Services
Dr. Raymond Little has years of experience treating varicose veins as founder and CEO of The Vein Institute and MediSpa. Visit this site for more about advancements in vascular therapy.
