Croda finds new growth treating Ozempic-related facial side effects

British chemical company Croda is experiencing a business resurgence following the discovery that one of its existing products can mitigate the side effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

Croda has been producing Volufiline, a skin-plumping chemical derived from the anemarrhena plant root, for approximately a decade with limited success. However, the rise of drugs like Ozempic has led to a phenomenon known as ‘Ozempic face,’ characterized by hollow cheeks and sunken eyes due to rapid weight loss. Doctors found that Volufiline can combat these gaunt features by chemically expanding fat cells to swell the skin.

The demand for the ingredient has surged, particularly within the French and South Korean cosmetics industries, following its popularity on social media. Chief Executive Steve Foots noted that while the product has been in the company’s portfolio for ten years, the market for Ozempic has created a significant new opportunity for the group.