Category Archives: HST001

Histogen, Hair Stimulating Complex (HSC), HST001

Histogen HST-001 Hair Stimulating Complex Folds

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So Histogen was likely the biggest joke in the history of anticipated hair loss treatments. Worse than Aderans and Intercytex. Worse than Aclaris. They fooled us twice over the course of 14 years since inception. Most companies (e.g., Kythera) fold their hair loss program or their entire operations much sooner.

Histogen Ends its HST 001 Program

In recent years, I essentially gave up on Histogen, but still wrote the further below clinical trial update post in February.

Now, per today’s news, we know that HST-001 is over once and for all.

“We will suspend development of this (HST-001) program. We believe the best business decision at this time is to redirect these resources towards our high value orthopedic programs.”

The only positive is that most readers did not have high hopes of Histogen’s hair loss treatment being that effective. So this is not a big disappointment, even if we did not expect such a sudden cessation.

I do wish I could get back the time I spent in writing over ten posts on the company since this blog began :-(

HST 001 Clinical Trial Update

Feb 16, 2021

Histogen HST 001
Histogen Hair Stimulating Complex (HST 001) trial schedule.

In 2012, Histogen announced 24-week results from their Phase I/II clinical trial of their hair stimulating complex (HSC). This product is also known as HST-001 and used to treat male pattern hair loss.

In 2021, Histogen just announced 26-week results from their Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of HST-001.

HSTO for the Back to the Future win!

Mockery aside, CEO Richard Pascoe said that a larger clinical trial will commence in the second half of 2021.

It seems like the hair stimulating complex works well in growing some hair in men with androgenetic alopecia. However, just as with the week 18 results, the placebo group also witnessed similar increases in hair count. There were no significant issues with safety or side effects.

I cannot be bothered to find out if some in the placebo group were using any kind of hair loss treatments such as Minoxidil. Most likely, that would not be allowed.

Per Histogen’s website, the HSC contains growth factors including KGF, VEGF, and follistatin.

Histogen, HSC660, HST001

Histogen Phase 3 Trials on Men Begin in Mexico

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Update 2020: Histogen merging with Conatus Pharmaceuticals.

Update 2019: It seems like Histogen’s male hair loss product (HST001) clinical trials never worked out in Mexico. A new article from Histogen states that Phase 1b trials for HST001 (Hair Stimulating Complex) would start later in 2019. Note that their female hair loss product is called HSC660.

Earlier today, commentator “Bekoo” posted some groundbreaking news about Histogen in regards to their men’s hair loss product. The information he posted was part of an article that appeared a few days ago in the San Diego Tribune on July 12th 2018. Note that Histogen is headquartered in San Diego, so the company is often covered in the city’s main local newspapers.

Histogen Hair Stimulating Complex (HSC660) for Women

Histogen Hair Stimulating Complex HSC660
Histogen Hair Stimulating Complex HSC660 for Women. Before and After Photo.

The title and gist of this new article is in regards to Histogen’s women’s hair loss product (HSC660) trials starting. I already discussed this development recently. So even though it was in my Google alerts, I was never planning to read the article in it’s entirety… until “Bekoo” saved us and posted his findings today.

Histogen Starts Phase 3 Trials in Mexico

  • By far the biggest news is that Histogen has started Phase 3 clinical trials in Mexico for its men’s hair product. This product is called “an earlier version of HSC660” in the San Diego Tribune article, so might be slightly different from the newer women’s HSC660.

Note that in 2016, Histogen estimated that their men’s  hair loss product would be available in Mexico in 2018. They were planning to start Phase 3 trials in Mexico “soon” per that 2016 post of mine. So it looks like they got delayed by 1.5 years or so. Better late than never of course.

Gail Naughton

  • Also, per CEO Dr. Gail Naughton, they anticipate success with these Phase 3 trials and are looking towards commercialization:

“We’re in very late-stage negotiations with some huge retail partners. A deal should be concluded in the next few months.”