Dexpanthenol, Hyundai Pharm

Dexpanthenol for Hair Loss from Hyundai Pharm

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Dexpanthenol could be of use in treating hair loss. Or at least in treating the inflammation, itching and scalp discomfort often associated with androgenetic alopecia.

Dexpanthenol for Hair Loss
Hyundai Pharm’s new Dexnoxyl tablets contain Dexpanthenol to treat hair loss.

Reader “James” posted an interesting link today. South Korea based Hyundai Pharm just released Dexpanthenol based over-the-counter (OTC) tablets to treat hair loss. The brand name is Dexnoxyl.

Hyundai Pharm claims that this is the first ever OTC hair loss treatment in South Korea. Each of the 120 tablets contains 100 milligrams of the key active ingredient Dexpanthenol (also called Panthenol).

Does Dexpanthenol work for Hair Loss?

TS Shampoo with Panthenol and Biotin.

Today is the first time that I ever heard of Dexpanthenol. However, it is “the alcohol analog” of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). And Vitamin B5 is used in some hair loss shampoos. Another South Korean company sells a Dexpanthenol containing shampoo called TS Shampoo. Reviews are not bad at 4.2/5 starts.

And yet another  Korean company sells a salicylic acid and Dexpanthenol containing product. The key ingredient in these shampoos supposedly helps dissolve excess secretion from the sebaceous glands (aka sebum). The latter is a key reason for problems such as dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

Interestingly, in 2020, a Turkish author wrote two papers in favor of Dexpanthenol being able to treat pattern hair loss:

  1. Dexpanthenol may be a novel treatment for male androgenetic alopecia (May 2020).
  2. Systemic Dexpanthenol as a novel treatment for female pattern hair loss (September 2020).

A related clinical trial started in Iran in 2019. Edit: Results can be found here and they are positive. However, as one of the readers pointed out, we need before and after photos.

I would be very surprised if this new tablet product from Hyundai Pharm can regrow hair in totally bald areas of the scalp. However, I would not be surprised it it really does improve scalp health and reduces inflammation. Thereby possibly preventing more rapid progression in hair loss.

Note that Panthenol is widely used in various cosmetics and personal-care products. It helps with moisturization and can stimulate collagen regeneration. Panthenol promotes the acetylation of choline to acetylcholine

Eye drops and nasal sprays also often contain Panthenol to combat dryness. Reported side effects are minimal and generally limited to skin irritation and inflammation.

Dermal Papilla Cells, Hair Multiplication, Han Bio

Han Bio Hair Multiplication via Dermal Papilla Cells

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At the end of March, I read about a new South Korean company named Han Bio. Apparently, this company has managed to successfully develop a dermal papilla cell culturing technology. If true, this would represent a hair loss cure.

Update: Another article from March 2021, where they refer to the CEO using a different name (Kang David).

“By collecting 50 to 100 healthy hair follicle tissues from the back of a patient suffering from hair loss, extracting the dermal papilla cells, cultivating them, and transplanting them back to the head, we can fundamentally cure hair loss.”

Of course at first I was incredulous. However, after further research, I decided that I should at least take the company semi-seriously. Han Bio’s blog is especially extensive. Some hair related articles on there go into many pages, so be sure to navigate thoroughly (after translation).

Note that when I contacted the company, they directed me to the above blog.

South Korea: Groundbreaking Hair Loss Treatments

South Korea is a world leader when it comes to plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures. When it comes to treating hair loss, South Korea is especially impressive in developing and/or using new technologies. For example:

  • South Korea is one of only two countries in the world where Dutasteride has been approved for treating hair loss.
  • The work of Dr. Kang-Yell Choi and CK Biotech in developing PTD-DBM to target CXXC5.
  • PGD2 inhibition technology via Stemore.
  • DKK-1 research and patent for locally-based Bioneer.
  • My favorite: Allogeneic Person-to-Person Hair Transplants.
  • South Korean companies are also at the forefront of developing stem cell related products, including AAPE and ADSC. Most such currently available products likely have limited to no benefits towards hair growth.
  • Finasteride injections.
  • A disproportionate amount of research when it comes to hair growth from natural products. Especially from sea vegetables and algae.

Han Bio’s Dermal Papilla Cell Storage and Culturing

Note that Han Bio is also called Hanmo Bio and Hanbio Group in news articles and on the company’s site. The externally located blog has some lengthy posts regarding this new technology. Some include images and video (screenshots further below).

In December 2020, Han Bio introduced its dermal papilla cell storage service called HDPC-480. The list price is 4.8 million South Korean Won ($4280 at current exchange rates). They offer a steep discount for the first 500 patients.

Note that in the western world, we have a similar option available via HairClone (UK). Moreover, HairClone has already been active for several years.

Han Bio Dermal Papilla Cell Storage
Dermal Papilla Cell Storage. HDPC-480 procedure from Han Bio.

According to the balding CEO Kang Da-Witt:

“Han Bio has secured technologies to separate and regroup the dermal papilla cells in hair follicles. It would take just a single strand of a patient’s hair to cultivate enough cells to reproduce around 30,000 hair strands.”

The company’s method is described as “chopping separation technology” after translation from Korean into English.

Han Bio has finished construction of its first plant, where the company stores and cultivates patient dermal papilla cells. These can then be cultured, multiplied and then implanted into the same patient via a hair transplant. This new plant will open by the end of May 2021.

Han Bio Clinical Trials and Patents

Han Bio Presentation
Han Bio video presentation screenshot.

Han Bio will start clinical trials in the second half of 2021. According to CEO Kang Da-witt, he expects that the time required for clinical trials will be shortened. This is due to a favorable new South Korean law which became effective on August 28, 2020. It is designed to help fast-track the market entry of regenerative medicine and biologics related products. Similar to Japan’s fast-track laws.

Han Bio is now preparing to apply for patents in the US, Japan and China. The are also open to out-licensing the technology.

Transplanting Someone Else’s Dermal Papilla Cells

From Han Bio’s extensive blog, one FAQ section caught my eye. It seems like the parent company of “Hanmo Bio” has successfully transplanted hair stem cells from one person to another. Without any immune reactions.

Dermal Papilla Transplant
Dermal Papilla Cell Transplant from Another Person.

Obviously, this all sounds way too good to be true. But I have to prognosticate.

Asian countries dominate the world in the manufacturing of nano-scale semiconductors, microchips and integrated circuits. Perhaps our invisible-to-the-eye dermal papilla cells are next?

Hair loss news blog. Hair cloning for baldness.