Category Archives: Replicel

Manabu Ohyama, Replicel, Shiseido, Takashi Tsuji

Shiseido Discusses Replicel Technology

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The below two superb videos from Japan’s Shiseido were shared by its Canadian partner Replicel three weeks ago. I delayed embedding them here until they had English subtitles (which they now do if you click on CC in the lower right corner of the videos). Some of the visuals are very interesting and instructive. In my opinion, if final clinical trials this year work out as expected, Shiseido will be able to bring this technology to fruition far more rapidly and easily in comparison to Replicel due to two main reasons:

  1. Japan’s newer much more friendlier regulations governing regenerative medicine and stem cell research.  Stage 3 clinical trials will no longer be required in Japan.
  2. Shiseido’s drastically larger size and funding availability in comaprison to Replicel.  According to wikipedia, Shiseido is the largest cosmetics firm in Japan, and the fourth largest cosmetics firm in the world.

The second video covers the work of Dr. Takashi Tsuji and of Dr. Manabu Ohyama (who it seems might be working for Shiseido).

Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Replicel, Setipiprant

Kythera and Replicel Updates

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Replicel’s latest presentation from BioAsia 2015 in Japan is out.  I was not planning on writing much about Replicel for a few months, but it seems like they keep making interesting presentations almost every month with some new information each time. Moreover, people in the hair loss chat on this site keep asking about Replicel.

At the start of the presentation, I liked reading the quote from Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe that was made in early 2014:

Japan is on the leading edge in regenerative medicine. We will make it possible to generate cells at private-sector factories.

Page 16-19 has most of the RCH-01 and 6-month hair growth related information.  12-month results with higher doses and frequency will likely lead to better outcomes as has been conjectured in the past.  The last part of the presentation has more details on Japan’s regenerative medicine reforms (via Abenomics related policy changes) and early-to-market reforms.

More interesting to me was this week’s news regarding Kythera Biopharmaceuticals’ ATX-101 injectable drug that reduces double chins receiving unanimous backing from an independent panel of experts.  It is thus likely that the FDA will approve this product in the next several months, and if effective, it could in some cases become a better alternative to liposuction.  In fact ATX-101 (brand name Kybella) would be the first ever drug to be approved by the FDA to reduce localized fat deposits.  This company’s stock price movement is definitely worth following.

The main reason I found this news interesting is because just over a month ago, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals acquired global rights to Setipiprant, a PGD2 antagonist.  According the company’s highly informative 2013 annual report and per various parts of the company’s website, it seems like hair and fat are two of the main areas in which Kythera will be focusing on in the coming years, with an overall focus on the human face.  The company has a long-term goal of becoming a major player in the aesthetics industry.

For those interested, Kythera has an investor conference call and webcast later today at 4:30 pm ET.