Category Archives: ALRV5XR

Replenology: Arbor Life’s Branded ALRV5XR

A few months ago, I heard about a relatively new company named Replenology. It is headquartered in Canada, and produces a natural hair growth product with 21 key hair growth pathway targets.

Replenology Hair Growth
Replenology supplement, serum, shampoo and conditioner.

This week, someone on our chat mentioned Arbor Life Labs and its ALRV5XR hair growth product.

Upon further research, I discovered that Replenology® is Arbor Life Labs’ branded version of its ALRV5XR hair regeneration product.

Replenology: 21 Hair Growth Pathways

I am very skeptical about natural and botanical products for hair growth being able to reverse baldness. However, countless studies have proven that natural products are able to make existing hair thicker and stronger. In some cases, even reverse recent hair loss (at least temporarily).

In recent years, things such as propolis, sandalwood and seaweed have all been in the news for their hair growth properties. The most famous natural product to benefit scalp hair is saw palmetto via its modest dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocking activity.

While their Instagram is not updated regularly, I found Replenology’s website content to be of high quality. In particular, their amazing “21 to Grow” brochure (the product targets 21 factors or pathways that contribute to hair loss). The active natural ingredients (expand below image) target different molecular pathways that promote hair growth. Although I am still skeptical, kudos to this company for making such a great effort. Make sure to also read my past post on natural DHT blockers for hair growth.

Over 200 Ingredients

The number of ingredients in Replenology’s product portfolio (capsule supplement, follicle serum, shampoo and conditioner) easily exceeds 200. The below screenshot only lists the active ingredients. See a more complete list here.

Replenology ALRV5XR Active Ingredients
Replenology ALRV5XR active ingredients for hair growth.

Hair Follicle Health

The Replenology formulation targets seven key area of hair follicle health:

  1. Growth factors.
  2. Circulation.
  3. Anti-androgens.
  4. Follicle protection.
  5. Hair stem cell stimulation.
  6. Immune regulation.
  7. Nutrition.

Among the natural ingredients include ones that reduce DHT; inhibit PGD2; inhibit the COX enzyme; inhibit the interferon (IFN) class of cytokine proteins; increase good (when it comes to hair growth) interleukins (IL-10) and decrease bad ones (IL-1 and IL-6); and block the negative effects of TNF-α and TGF-ß on hair cells;.

The formulation also further activates the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway to increase cell proliferation; influences the SHH (Sonic Hedgehog) pathway and induces the anagen (growth phase) of resting hair follicles; inhibits the bone morphogenic protein (BMP-4); stimulates the noggin protein; activates mTORC1 (target of rapamycin); activates FGF-7; inhibits FGF-18; activates hepatocyte growth factor (HGF); activates insulin-like growth factors (in particular, IGF-1); activates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

It is hard for me to believe that one oral supplement (even if combined with topical shampoo, conditioner and serum) can do all the above. Especially beyond a modest efficacy level. At present, you cannot find Replenology products on Amazon, so no reviews and ratings on that site.

In any event, I am glad that someone has finally tried to come up with an all-encompassing hair loss product. Something that I implied in my 2019 post on “creating the ultimate hair loss drug cocktail“.

ALRV5XR from Arbor Life Labs

Arbor Life Labs completed separate safety and efficacy clinical trials for male and female androgenetic alopecia patients in 2020. Both trials entailed 46 subjects each. The treatment entailed a dietary oral supplement of ALRV5XR, a hair follicle serum, a shampoo and a conditioner.

The company’s current pipeline indicates that ALRV5XR trials are complete. This is probably because you do not need three trials for natural products.

Arbor Life ALRV5XR Pipeline
Arbor Life Labs’ ALRV5XR hair growth product clinical trials and pipeline.

The Phase 1 trial results were discussed (separately, for men and women) in the prestigious Lancet journal in 2021. However, note that the lead author Mr. Peter Feldman is also the co-founder and CEO of Arbor Life as well as CEO of Replenology.

  • September 11, 2021: Safety and efficacy of ALRV5XR in men with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Also in ScienceDirect in October 2021.
  • June 23, 2021: Safety and efficacy of ALRV5XR in women with androgenetic alopecia or telogen effluvium: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. See the PR News article from October 19, 2021 (included a before and after photo).

The findings indicate that ALRV5XR caused new terminal hair growth in both men and women. Arbor Life’s patent for ALRV5XR is pending, and is titled as:

“Botanicals as Wnt/β-Catenin Activators, Molecular Pathway Regulators, Tissue Regenerators and Health Biomarker Regulators.”