Innotox by Medytox: The World’s First Liquid Botulinum Toxin

A Clinically Innovative Formulation with an Important Safety Caveat

Innotox is a botulinum toxin type A product developed by Medytox Inc., the South Korean biopharmaceutical company also known for Neuronox and Meditoxin. First approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2013, Innotox holds the distinction of being the world’s first ready-to-use liquid botulinum toxin formulation, eliminating the reconstitution step required by all other commercially available neurotoxin products.

While Innotox is a clinically meaningful product with genuine innovation behind it, it has also become the center of a significant safety controversy in the United States, which is addressed directly below.

What Makes Innotox Different

Most botulinum toxin products are supplied as freeze-dried powder that must be reconstituted with saline before injection. Innotox is supplied as a pre-mixed sterile liquid, ready for use without any preparation by the practitioner.

This format has theoretical advantages: it eliminates reconstitution variability, reduces preparation time, and removes one potential source of dosing inconsistency. For this reason, it has attracted attention from both clinicians and, unfortunately, consumers looking to self-administer.

Innotox contains botulinum toxin type A at a lower protein concentration than some other formulations, which has been associated with reduced immunogenicity risk and a lower likelihood of neutralizing antibody formation with repeated treatments.

Approved Uses and Clinical Applications

In South Korea and other markets where it holds regulatory approval, Innotox is used by licensed medical professionals for the treatment of dynamic facial wrinkles, including glabellar lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet, and perioral wrinkles. It is also used for hyperhidrosis and other therapeutic indications consistent with other botulinum toxin type A products.

Regulatory Status in the United States

Innotox does not currently hold FDA approval for use in the United States.

Medytox has explored pathways to bring Innotox to the U.S. market, including a licensing agreement with Evolus, but as of now no Biologics License Application (BLA) or Investigational New Drug (IND) application has been filed with the FDA. Innotox remains unapproved for use in the U.S., and its import and sale without FDA authorization is illegal under federal law.

The FDA has taken enforcement action against U.S.-based sellers of Innotox, including a federal criminal case resulting in a prison sentence for a distributor who illegally sold Innotox and Meditoxin to U.S. consumers while falsely claiming FDA approval. The FDA has also issued formal warning letters to online retailers offering Innotox for sale.

The Self-Injection Trend and Its Risks

Innotox gained significant social media attention in 2024 and 2025 when videos of consumers self-injecting it at home spread widely on TikTok and Instagram. The trend was driven by its pre-mixed format, perceived accessibility, and dramatically lower cost compared to provider-administered neurotoxins.

Multiple board-certified dermatologists and the FDA have publicly warned against this practice.

Botulinum toxin injected without proper anatomical knowledge, technique, and dosing expertise carries serious risks including muscle weakness in unintended areas, ptosis (drooping eyelid), difficulty swallowing or breathing, asymmetry, and in severe cases, spread of the toxin beyond the injection site causing life-threatening paralysis. Injecting too close to breathing muscles, the thyroid, or vascular structures can have consequences that require emergency medical care.

Beyond technique, products purchased through third-party online sellers may be counterfeit, improperly stored, mislabeled, or contaminated. Cold chain integrity, which is essential for botulinum toxin stability, cannot be guaranteed outside authorized medical distribution channels.

Medytox itself has stated publicly that it only sells to authorized medical providers and does not endorse consumer self-injection of its products.

A Note on Safety and Provider Expertise

The Innotox trend highlights a broader principle that applies to all neurotoxin products: the safety and quality of outcomes depend not just on the product, but on the expertise of the person administering it.

A board-certified dermatologist brings years of training in facial anatomy, injection technique, complication management, and individualized treatment planning. These cannot be replicated by following a social media tutorial, regardless of the product being used.

Patients who are curious about neurotoxin options, including newer Korean formulations, are encouraged to have that conversation with a qualified dermatologist rather than seeking unregulated alternatives online.