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Death to Beauty
The Transformative History of Botox
Published by: Indiana University Press
216 Pages, 25 b&w illus.
- eBook
- 9780253067821
- Published: January 2024
$19.99
- eBook
- 9780253067814
- Published: February 2024
$19.99
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In the 1970s, Dr. Alan Scott sought to selectively weaken eye muscles to treat strabismus (when one or both eyes are misaligned) without surgery. After failed attempts with other agents, Scott developed a method to stabilize the bacteria that causes botulism, culminating in a drug that eventually became known as Botox.
In Death to Beauty, Eugene M. Helveston, MD, follows the unlikely story of botulism's 1817 discovery in contaminated German sausages, to its use in military and research facilities, to Scott, an ophthalmologist who aimed to safely use the drug in humans. Scott struggled alone as an unknown in the pharmaceutical industry, searching for clinical trial financing and FDA approval, which he achieved at a fraction of the billions big pharma usually spends to bring a drug to market. Eventually, the company Allergan bought him out, capitalizing on the possibilities for cosmetic uses. Scott's formula was renamed "Botox" and reached annual sales in the billions. After the sale, Scott received no further compensation from Botox sales and remained the same unassuming man.
A fascinating walk through the intricate history of how the world's deadliest toxin starting as a treatment for crossed eyes became a routine tool for the cosmetic industry, Death to Beauty will make you rethink success, beauty, and deadly bacteria.
Preface
1. Clostridium Botulinum
2. The World's Deadliest Poison
3. The Canning Industry
4. An Outbreak in the United States
5. A Still Rare But Deadly Disease
6. World War II Sets the Stage
7. Fort Detrick—U.S. Army Chemical Warfare
8. Fort Detrick and the CIA
9. The Government Steps In
10. Edward Schantz Testifies
11. Back Home in Madison
12. Dr. Alan B. Scott
13. Progress in the Lab
14. First Injection in a Primate
15. First Injection in a Human
16. Joining the Team
17. Manufacturing Begins
18. Marketing and Selling a New Drug
19. Jean Carruthers's TEDx Talk
20. Dermatology Opens the Floodgates
21. Botox and Neurology
22. The Legacy
Epilogue
Appendices
Glossary
Eugene M. Helveston, MD, is Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology at the IU School of Medicine. Helveston's numerous honors include the Kellogg Scholar Award from the University of Michigan, the Humanitarian of the Year and Silver Recognition Award from the Indiana Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Outstanding Humanitarian and Life Achievement Honor Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has authored or co-authored three ophthalmology textbooks and over 300 scientific papers. He lives in Indianapolis.
"Death to Beauty is captivating enough to draw a layperson through. As he mentions in the introduction, Helveston's motivation was to capture the history of Botox's development firsthand, from Scott and the other researchers themselves, before their retirement from the lab advanced to retirement from life altogether. His timing was not far off, as Scott died in 2021, cutting their interviews short. Nevertheless, Helveston got the whole story, and then some."
~Arvind Dilawar, Los Angeles Review of Books
"A riveting text that bridges biography, history, and medicine, Death to Beauty is a must-read for anyone interested in the story of how Dr. Alan Scott, working almost independently and with few resources, transformed the world's deadliest toxin into a wonder drug that has not only become a multi-billion-dollar industry, but a medical and cultural phenomenon."
~Dana Berkowitz, author of Botox Nation: Changing the Face of America
"Expertly written and thoroughly researched, Dr. Helveston meticulously outlines the history of Botox and the pivotal role that Dr. Alan Scott played in bringing Botox safely to millions of people across the globe."
~Christie L. Morse, MD, Concord Eye Center
"Dr. Helveston has painstakingly researched the life and accomplishments of Alan B. Scott MD, one of the most brilliant minds in medicine and creator of botulinum toxin (Botox) for the treatment of many conditions. This book is a page burner, interesting, and still very thorough. I highly recommend it to clinicians and non-clinicians alike."
~William Good, MD, Senior Scientist at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
"At the heart of this book is the curiosity and determination of one man, Alan Scott. Helveston's compelling narrative makes botulinum toxin understandable, all the while tracing the fine line that distinguishes poison from medicine. Death to Beauty is an important addition to the history of medicine."
~Edward O'Malley, MD, Senior Staff Physician Emeritus, Henry Ford Health
"Eugene Helveston, M.D. documents the amazing story of Botulinum toxin from a deadly problem to a very important therapeutic advance for patients with multiple types of neurological conditions, from various movement disorders' treatment to helping alleviating the misery of migraine headaches. Botulinum toxin has been a great advance for neurologists treating many needy patients."
~David A. Josephson, M.D., Josephson-Wallack-Munshower Neurology, P.C.
"Dr. Scott would be proud and grateful."
~C. William Hanke, MD, MPH, Former President, American Academy of Dermatology
"Death to Beauty is a fascinating look at the dedication and science behind one man's journey, along with those who helped along the way, to creating a multiuse drug that's safe for humans out of a bacteria that killed many. His success came from diligence, hard work, and little funding. This book is beautifully written and I found myself intrigued by Dr. Alan Scott and his mission despite not having ever been interested in Botox. This is a story of one man's quest that can be appreciated by everyone and his story deserved to be told."
~Lisa Albright, Books Love and Understanding
"What a fascinating read! . . . Eugene M. Helveston, MD takes the reader on a fascinating walk through the intricate history of how the world's deadliest toxin starting as a treatment for crossed eyes became a routine tool for a variety of health issues from overactive bladder to migraine and one of the most widely used products in cosmetic care."
~Bookish Heidi
"I found this deftly written book informative with good historical details and interesting facts. This is a great read for those interested in nonfiction medical books, advances in medical science, and maybe for those thinking of Botox for myriad of reasons."
~Michelle Jocson, Nurse Bookie
"This book would be fascinating for anyone who has considered Botox."
~Christy Taylor, CMTloveswineandbooks
"This is an excellent read if you've ever been curious about the facts and myths behind Botox or if you just enjoy very well-written nonfiction."
~Susan J. Ballard, Subakka Bookstuff
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