THIODERM ELATE for Augmentation of Very Thin, Thin, and Moderately Thick Lips

The Investigation is a prospective, exploratory, randomized, subject and evaluator - blinded, parallel-group, single-centre, pilot trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of THIODERM ELATE compared to Juvéderm® Ultra 3 for lip augmentation. Up to 33 eligible subjects will be included in this investigation with a 10 % estimated drop-out rate and will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to Thioderm ELATE and Juvéderm® Ultra 3, respectively, after the informed consent form (ICF) has been signed and relevant pre-treatment procedures, including medical history and pregnancy testing, as well as eligibility for inclusion have been performed. Subjects will receive injections into both, upper and lower lip using Thioderm ELATE or Juvéderm® Ultra 3 until an optimal cosmetic result is achieved. During Screening and prior to injection, the Blinded Evaluating Investigator will evaluate the lip fullness by using the 5-point Lip Fullness Scale (LFS). An optional touch-up treatment can be performed at Week 4 upon discretion of the treating investigator. The safety and effectiveness of the treatment will be evaluated after Day 1, 3 and 7 as well as at 4, 8,12, 16 and 24 weeks or an End of Study Visit using objective and subjective outcome parameters. . The same Blinded Evaluating Investigator will assess each subject at screening and at the follow-up visits.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged ≥ 18 years at the time of screening (upper limit 75 years, inclusive).
• Subjects with approximately symmetrical 'very thin' or 'thin' lips (scores of 1 or 2 on the 5-point Lip Fullness Scale) as assessed by the Blinded Evaluating Investigator at Screening (Visit 0). The scores do not have to be the same on both (upper and lower) lips, but must be 1 or 2.
• Healthy skin in the perioral area and free of diseases that could interfere in cutaneous aging evaluation.
• Intact or permanently replaced central and lateral incisors, canine and first and second premolars in the upper row of teeth and intact or replaced incisors, canines and premolars in the lower row of teeth
• Subject has a stable medical condition with no uncontrolled systemic disease.
• Females of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test and must agree to use a highly effective method of birth control throughout the entire study.
• Male subjects with female partners of child-bearing potential must agree to use contraception throughout the entire study (surgical sterilization or a physical barrier such as a condom).
• Willingness to abstain from any aesthetic or surgical procedures in the treatment area for the duration of study, including botulinum toxin injection (except glabella or forehead botulinum toxin treatment).
• Subjects who understand the purpose and conduct of the study and having given written informed consent and are willing and able to attend the study visits as judged by the Investigator.

Exclusion criteria

• Females, who are pregnant and/or, lactating or planning to become pregnant during the clinical investigation.
• History of allergies or hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid and/or to gram positive bacterial proteins, lidocaine or any amide-based anaesthetic
• History of severe allergies manifested by a history of anaphylaxis or history or presence of multiple severe allergies
• Tendency to keloid formation and/or hypertrophic scars.
• Presence of infectious, inflammatory or proliferative cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions in the area to be treated
• Recurrent (three times a year over the last year) herpes simplex in the treatment areas
• Known human immune deficiency virus-positive individuals
• History or presence of any autoimmune or connective tissue disease
• Uncontrolled (or unstable) Diabetes mellitus or uncontrolled systemic diseases as per Investigator discretion
• Previous facial plastic surgery, tissue augmentation with silicone, fat or another non-absorbable substance (permanent fillers) and semi-permanent / long-lasting fillers (e.g., poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) filler) in the area of device application and during the entire investigation
• Implantation of dermal fillers in the treatment area within the preceding 24 months prior to Visit 0 (Screening) and during the entire investigation
• Subject has received any of the following aesthetic treatments in the perioral area and or lower face third: e.g., laser therapy, absorbable and non-absorbable sutures (threads), dermabrasion, mesotherapy, micro-needling and/or botulinum toxin (including treatment of crow´s feet in the outer eye region) as well as permanent make-up at the lips within the last 12 months prior to Visit 0, chemical peeling within the last three months prior to Visit 0 or is planning to undergo such procedures during entire investigation
• Facial lipolysis, including submental fat treatments, within the previous 12 months prior to Visit 0 (Screening) and during the entire investigation
• Bariatric surgery within 12 months prior to Visit 0 (Screening) and during the entire investigation.
• History of bleeding disorder and/or use of anticoagulant, antiplatelet or thrombolytic medication from 10 days pre- to 3 days post-injection (initial treatment and touch-up treatment).
• Systemic glucocorticoids, including immunosuppressant or immunomodulators, within 8 weeks prior to undergoing investigational device injections.
• Subjects suffering from untreated epilepsy.
• Subjects with acute rheumatic fever with heart complications.
• Subjects with symptoms of cardiac conduction disorders.
• Planned dental/oral surgery or modification (bridgework, implants) within four weeks prior to each injection and to a minimum of four weeks post injection (initial treatment, touch-up treatment).
• Beard longer than three-day beard, or excessive facial hair that could interfere in evaluation of treatment as judged by the Investigator.
• Subjects with active SARS-CoV-19 infection and Subjects with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection including any other respiratory symptoms/illnesses within the past 14 days unless tested negative prior to Visit 0 (Screening).
• Any medical condition prohibiting the inclusion in the clinical investigation according to the judgment of the Investigator.
• Previous enrolment in this clinical investigation.
• Current participation in another clinical investigation, or treatment with any investigational drug/medical device within 30 days prior to clinical investigation enrolment, or 5 half-lives of the investigational drug, whichever is longer.
• Subjects who experienced fat loss for a minimum of 10% of body weight over the last 12 months (e.g., post bariatric subjects), or Subjects who have the intention to change eating habits that result in a weight gain or loss >10% during the entire investigation.
• Close affiliation with the Investigator (e.g., a close relative, financially dependent on the study site) or Subject who is an employee of the Sponsor's company or group companies of the Sponsor.
• Any individual whose willingness to volunteer in this clinical investigation could be unduly influenced by the expectation, whether justified or not, of benefits associated with participation or of retaliatory response from senior members of a hierarchy in case of refusal to participate (e.g., persons with a legal custodian appointed due to mental disability, prisoners, soldiers and other members of the armed forces, civil servants).