According to a new study, researchers have found a new way to increase the effectiveness of botulinum neurotoxin treatments, more commonly known as Botox, which they believe could lead to lower dose treatments that would enhance the cosmetic benefits of the procedure.

The study published in the March 29 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society also discovered that the new approach to Botox treatments could make the procedure safer by reducing the risks of immune system complications that may occur with frequent injections. Additionally, lower, more potent doses of Botox can lower prices for the popular wrinkle treatment.

Botox is developed from botulinum neurotoxin, a lethal toxin, which can signal muscle contraction, temporarily paralyzing and erasing wrinkles. Botox is also used as a treatment for a number of other conditions including lazy eyes, migraine headaches, excessive sweating, and cerebral palsy.

Kim Janda, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. and his colleagues created a synthetic molecule that can ‘superactivate’ the neurotoxin in Botox, increasing the toxin’s paralyzing effects.

“We have developed a synthetic molecule that binds to the toxin and increases its normal function,” Jamda says. “The discovery of small molecule activators may ultimately provide a valuable method for minimizing dosage, reducing resistance, and increasing its clinical efficacy.”

The new formula could allow approximately one-tenth of the normal dose of Botox to be administered, reducing the risks of immune complications as well as side effects of the procedure such as pain, redness, and muscle weakness.

The new Botox treatment has not been tested in animals or humans yet. Researchers say that if further studies are successful, the new technique could be available in four to six years.