Updated on March 9, 2018
Kythera Biopharmaceuticals acquired by Allergan
Hot off the press.Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, the company who recently acquired the rights to use PDG2r antagonists for hair growth, has been acquired by the pharmaceutical powerhouse Allergan for $2.1 Billion. The deal is mainly being publicized as an acquisition of Kythera’s double chin treatmentKybella. However, any internet hair enthusiast knows that Allergan already has Bimatoprost in its pipeline as a topical hair growth treatment. By acquiring Kythera and their PDG2r antagonistsetipiprant, Allergan now has a one-two punch for treating hair loss. Setipiprant is an oral medication (pill) that works systemically to prevent hair miniaturization and loss, while Bimatoprost is topical liquid to stimulate growth.
In an audio interview that was released shortly after Kythera acquired the PDG2r rights, a Kythera representative mentioned that Kythera was already developing a hair loss program focused on the androgen pathway for over two years before acquiring the rights to use setipiprant for hair. That’s interesting to know. What other companies could be privately working on hair growth?
Updated on March 9, 2018
AlviArmani Recruiting for Cutting Edge Hair Growth Treatment
This image was posted to AlviArmani’sTwitteraccount about three weeks ago.
The most notable information on the poster:
1. “Be a participant in cutting edge research for hair growth”
2. “No cost to you”
3. “Alviarmani Beverly Hills”
I was intrigued when I noticed this was being done byAlviArmani, who has conducted extensive hair multiplication research in the past. Their previous efforts apparently never came to fruition as a marketed treatment, but it seems they have not halted their research and development. I did a little digging to find that AA had even filed a patent forCell Compositions and Methods for Hair Follicle Generationin early 2011. The patent mentions utilizing epidermal matrix cells, dermal papillae cells, dermal sheath cells, and outer root sheath cells in its application. Sounds similar to the approach of the cell based companies we are all familiar with today.
So what are they up to this time? Unless you work for AlviArmani, you don’t know the details. Obviously, we know they have been doing some extensive cellular research over the past 7 to 8 years, and have a good understanding of follicle biology. There have been many new scientific discoveries regarding the hair growth cycle over the past 5 years and perhaps AA is implementing one or several of them into their new research study.
Update
I’ve just heard back from the clinic and they will be looking for roughly 60-70 participants for the study. One of the techs also told me they will be releasing more information about the study soon.
Updated on March 9, 2018
IBN 3D Hair Follicle Model
Thispress releasemight have flown under the radar back in July 2013 when it was released. It’s flown under the radar since then, too. However, I feel there could be more to it than what meets the eye when it comes to this research.
The IBN
First off, who is the IBN? The Institute of Biotechnology and Engineering is based in Singapore and is headed by Executive DirectorJackie Yi-Ru Ying.She was a former professor of chemical engineering at MIT. Impressive. According to its website, The IBN has research focused in nanomedicine, synthetic biosystems, biodevices and diagnostics, and green chemistry and energy. Here’s a cool PDF of theirCell and Tissue Engineering Portfolio.
The 3D Hair Follicle
The team who developed the 3D hair follicle structure is headed by Dr. Andrew Wan. In a nutshell, they have developed an in vitro 3D hair follicle model that mimics the cellular characteristics of a real hair follicle. Here’s a quote from Executive Director Jackie Ying:
“We have applied our cell and tissue engineering expertise to create a hair follicle-like structure that is very similar to the native hair follicle. This model allows us to better understand the mechanisms that control the development and growth of hair follicles. We hope that our invention would lead to novel ways to treat hair loss, which affects millions of people worldwide.”
And a follow-up from head researcher Dr. Andrew Wan:
“Measuring the diameter of a strand of hair, our hair follicle-like structure exhibits similar cell behavior as real hair follicles. In our model, the hair cells are implanted into very fine and transparent fibers, which can be easily examined under the microscope unlike conventional models, making them ideal for drug testing applications.”
One of the keys to the team’s success was the patented microfiber fabrication technology used for engineering cells in three dimensions. The press release mentions that this technology could be well suited for pharmaceutical and OTC companies to test out hair growth or hair inhibiting compounds on the 3D model. I’m thinking, that’s pretty cool, but what about using this as a means for hair cloning? Good question, dude.
I Reached out to The IBN
I decided to email the good folks over at The IBN and see what was cooking with their 3D hair model. Basically, I was interested to know if they had garnered any interest from companies looking to test their compounds on the 3D hair model. Also, I wanted to know if the IBN had further developed their research on the 3D model since the press release. They did not give me any new information, however they did say that they were not ready to release any further updates on the 3D hair follicle research.Voila.
It seems highly likely that if they were not ready to release any further update on the research then there is still ongoing development with it. Ongoing development could mean they have either tested compounds on the 3D hair model or perhaps even began researching the 3D hair model for cloning purposes. Either way, it seems that this research has further developed since that press release was given. Just as a tidbit, The IBN has active collaborations with Delta Electronics, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. It is clear that they are capable of world class developments.
这是另一个改变游戏规则的技术贝吗ng developed behind the scenes now? We’ll have to stay tuned. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Updated on March 9, 2018
Follicept
Follicept has had a big buzz on the internet lately, mostly due to the fact that it will soon begin trials on human subjects.Folliceptwas mentioned in a previous post aboutHair Regeneration Tech 2015. As a quick recap, Follicept is a topical gel solution that is based on a proprietary delivery method for the growth factor IGF-1. It has shown some cool results in mice which is depicted on the company’s home page. Basically, the mice given IGF-1 showed thicker hair than the mice treated with minoxidil, but only after 39 days of stopping the treatment. So, it appears that the effects of IGF-1 were continual on hair follicles even without continual application of the topical gel.
When’s it coming out?
According to Devon Grimme, Director of Business Development forPrometheon Pharmawhich is the parent company of Follicept, the company will begin an in-house trial of Follicept starting the last week of April 2015. Devon, along with a few others close to the company will be the members of the trial. Devon has promised to post updates of the trials on several websites and has reportedly created a Youtube account for updates as well. (Update:Follicept Youtube Page)如果一切顺利和局部有效for hair growth there is a chance that Follicept would be made available to the public in the Fall 2015. There is a section for trial updates at the top of Follicept’s home page.
Who developed Follicept?
Follicept was developed byDr. Stephen Hsuof Prometheon Pharma. Dr. Hsu has several patents, the most known of them being his transdermal delivery for peptide drugs. You can check out his portfolio onLinkedinwhich is pretty lengthy. Follicept has recently releasedthis presentationof how and why they believe Follicept will work. The document contains detailed information about their study on mice as well as a depiction of IGF-1’s proposed mechanism of action on the hair follicle. It’s worth a look.
My take
I like what I’ve seen from this company so far. Dr. Hsu is the real deal. Devon has been on point about getting things underway. We’ve all been asking for integrity and expediency from the industry. Now, we can take a look at the results from their trial as they come. And, as I said before, let’s cheer them on.
Updated on September 17, 2020
FUE or FUT Hair Transplants: Know the Difference
This article is a simple informative message for those considering a hair transplant. Today, hair transplants done by doctors of a high degree of skill and integrity are still the best option for restoring significant amounts of hair. One of the most important points for to be aware of when making a hair transplant decision isknowing the difference between FUE and FUT. There is loads of information and in-depth discussion about this subject online, and can be found using a simple internet search. Below, I will just be going over the very basics to help you get a general idea of the two procedures.
FUEProcedure– This is a newer version of hair transplant procedures that involves extracting out individual hair follicle grafts from the donor area of a patient’s scalp, one-by-one. The technique is done by a skilled surgeon using circular micro scalpels. Once removed from the donor scalp, the grafts are organized and prepared to be made ready for insertion into the patient’s recipient scalp area. The FUE process takes longer than a FUT and, usually, a FUE session will contain a smaller number of extracted grafts compared to a FUT procedure. Very small “dot” microscars are created through this procedure in the donor area of the scalp, yet, from a skilled surgeon they will be almost unnoticeable to the naked eye even when hair is cut very short.
FUT Procedure:这是一个比FUE技术。我nvolves cutting out a strip of scalp from the donor scalp area. That strip of scalp is then separated into individual hair follicle grafts to be prepared for insertion into the patient’s recipient scalp area. It is said there is a slightly better graft survival rate for the FUT procedure compared to FUE. The FUT procedure leaves a linear scar on the back of the scalp. A patient will generally have to style their hair longer in the donor area after an FUT compared to FUE to cover the scar. The FUT procedure is more painful post-operation than an FUE and has a longer recovery period for the donor site.
Many reputable surgeons will offer both procedures. Some of the best FUE results come from doctors with individual offices, i.e. independent hair transplant surgeons. FUE is usually more expensive per graft due to the time and preciseness it requires. I favor the idea of an FUE procedure for hair transplants. The recovery period is shorter, there is less pain involved, less physical trauma to the scalp, and with a great surgeon, FUE results will be comparable to FUT.
My overall message is that it is very important for all those considering a hair transplant to know the background information first; know the difference between FUE and FUT, and then do sufficient background research to find a reputable and talented surgeon. There are several websites dedicated to hair transplant surgeon reviews, it is wise to spend ample time doing your homework before making a decision.
Updated on March 9, 2018
Hair is a Wonderful Thing
We all love our hair. Some of us didn’t know how much we loved our hair until we didn’t have the same amount of it over a period of time. Hair is the reason I started this site, it’s the reason you came here to read this. Hair is interesting. Hair is stylish. Hair is personality. Hair is unique. It goes on…Having a shaved head is beautiful too. There’s nothing wrong with not having hair. It’s a matter of preference. I prefer to have hair, like many others.
The reason why I wrote this blog “Hair is a Wonderful Thing” is because I want to remind people that hair is what drives us, not hair loss. Hair and hair growth is where I do my best to put consistent attention. Sometimes, taking a step back and putting attention on another topic entirely is also good for the soul. It’s not always obvious to society that many people in this world: put in extra care for their hair, or have had a hair transplant, or take hair supplements, or wear a hairpiece, and you’d never know it. Many of them are famous and some of them are around you. You’d be surprised by the people in your life who have a hair situation that they deal with, unbeknownst to you.
Regeneration?
There is a silver lining. The cure is coming and truthfully it already exists. People in clinical studies have already experienced these injectable technologies. We’ve all seen photos of those who have grown back hair from cellular therapies. And they live on this planet. It’s a lot closer than it may seem. Also, it doesn’t matter what age you are to wish for more hair. You might be 19, you might be 68. Just know that you’re not the only one and people are generally much more compassionate about your situation than you might think.
Be Thankful Now
I believe it is important to hold a vision about what you want in life. The picture in your mind that makes you happy. Gratitude does so much in life. It raises our spirits, it gives us energy. It automatically gives us more of the things we are grateful for. It keeps us heading in the right direction.经常我记得,我大声说出“我thankful for all of my hair today.” I invite you to do the same or create your own mantra. If you’d like something a little more tangible to be thankful for, I’ve got you covered. In my next post I will list every major biotechnology company developing a hair regeneration treatment in 2015. It’s a good place to put our attention.
Thank you all.
Posted on February 26, 2015
Hello there!
This is my first post on the site. I will post news about potential treatments for hair regeneration, news of hair research, and I will put this whole hair regeneration thing into perspective.
Yes, this site will be optimistic, and yet truthful.
Thank you for visiting, I appreciate your support.