Category Archives: Wake Forest University

3D Bioprinter, Almirall, Anthony Atala, COL17A1, Replicel, Senescent Cells, Takashi Tsuji, Wake Forest University

Biotechs Target Baldness Market

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Biotechs Target Baldness Market

— The latest issue of Nature Biology has an interesting article titled “Biotechs target stagnant baldness market.” My favorite and at the same time least favorite sentence from the article:  “It’s been 25 years since Propecia (finasteride), from Merck of Kenilworth, New Jersey, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992.”

— Thanks to commentator “nosyu” from Japan for posting a link with news from today regarding hair and skin focused Japanese company Adjuvant Cosmetics. It is partnering with Dr. Takashi Tsuji (RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology) and Organ Technologies to conduct joint research on product development for hair and scalp problems.

— Of all the researchers and companies involved in the hair loss world, Replicel has provided us with the most regular updates. This past month has been no exception. Here is a new video with Replicel’s CEO Lee Buckler starting his presentation at 16:11. The presentation was part of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)’s “Investing in Japan” conference in Toronto, Canada that took place on January 29th 2016. The focus of the conference was on Japan’s booming regenerative medicine market. Lee also discusses Replicel’s partner Shiseido.

— Study from Japan suggests that COL17A1 (collagen gene) could be a new target for therapy in preventing hair loss.

— Kerastem clinical trial page was updated at the end of January 2016. Go under the locations section of that page to see if there is a clinic near you where you can volunteer. US only for now it seems.

— Excellent new article summarizing latest hair loss treatment options. One of the co-authors is the famous Dr. Antonella Tosti.

— Polichem (which is working on a topical Finasteride product called P-3074) was purchased by Spain’s Almirall. Also see this new positive study from Italy on P-3074.

— Irish men are increasingly opting for hair transplants like Wayne Rooney. Is a reduction in alcohol consumption next?

And now on to medical items of interest:

— Partisanship in the US hurting 21st Century Cures Act. Thank goodness for Japan, Canada, UK and probably some other countries by now.

— I have discussed Dr. Anthony Atala and the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine several times on this blog before. This week, both were widely covered by the media due to the completion of their 3D bioprinter that can make bone, cartilage and muscle (a culmination of 10 years of work it seems). Full journal article here. No mention about hair in there, but a Canadian team’s 3D bioprinter related article from 2014 mentions the eventual feasibility of adding hair follicles to the new skin. Some quotes from Dr. Atala here.

— UK scientists get gene editing go ahead. Now western scientists may become less prone to criticize the Chinese too much like they did last year.

— Oldest heart transplant recipient dies 33 years after getting a new heart. Amazing story. In another article I read, his son said that he died from kidney problems and still had no heart problems.

— If you have older family members that you want to live longer, you might want to find a sketchy doctor who can help remove their senescent worn out cells without government approval.

— A major boost for cryonics.

— A major boost for cancer treatment (using immune cells).

Wake Forest University, Amy McMichael, Anthony Atala

Wake Forest University Hair Loss Research

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Several days ago, I came across a hair loss forum post concerning a study related to a new topical hair loss product. This study was looking for volunteers and is taking place at Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Update: On the hair loss forums, some people think that this could be related to US army related research. Or to Samumed’s second Phase 2 clinical trial for SM04554, which includes scalp biopsies this time around. This second study is enrolling only 50 volunteers, as opposed to the 300 enrolled the first time around. I feel like the army research makes more sense, since none of the centers listed in Samumed’s latest presentation include any locations in North Carolina. On the other hand, Wake Forest (along with Rutgers University and the University of Pittsburgh) does have a significant relationship with the US army’s regenerative medicine research section.

Until this week, I had not read much about any significant hair loss research being conducted at Wake Forest University. However, the above study made me do some digging around. To my surprise, I found that Wake Forest has a part of its dermatology department dedicated to hair loss and body hair removal research. Moreover, it seems like the dermatology department’s chair Dr. Amy McMichael is especially well versed in women’s hair loss and ethnic hair and skin problems.

I have therefore decided to add Wake Forest University to my list of key hair loss research centers around the world.

Note that Wake Forest is also home to the renowned regenerative medicine researcher Dr. Anthony Atala. His videos on Tedtalk are a must watch. Also see the Wake Forest pages on printing skin cells of burn wounds and on their story.