Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, RIKEN, Takashi Tsuji, Tokyo University of Science

Tokyo University and RIKEN Grow Skin with Hair Follicles

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On April 1, a distinguished team of researchers from Japan published an important paper in the journal Science Advances describing how they successfully grew skin tissue in the lab (using reprogrammed induced pluripotent stem cells) which was then transplanted onto mice.  The transplanted skin included fully functioning hair follicles with perfect growth and resting phase cycling (“no significant differences in the hair cycle periods were found between natural and bioengineered follicles“), sweat glands and sebaceous glands.  Note that the original cells were also taken from mice (from their gums to be precise).  Most importantly, there were no tumors or other life threatening disorders seen in the transplant recipient mice.  It is still too early to tell whether such skin can act as real skin when it comes to its function of protecting the human body, cooling it and so forth.

It seems like this team was led by Dr. Ryoji Takagi from Tokyo University of Science and the renowned Dr. Takashi Tsuji from RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, with further collaboration with several other Japanese institutions.  On a somewhat related note, the main initial work surrounding induced pluripotent stem cells (known as iPS cells or iPSCs) was undertaken by Japanese scientist Dr. Shinya Yamanaka in 2006, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize for this in 2012.

When I first read this story I was planning to include it in my next brief items of interest post around the middle of this month.  I did not want to devote a whole blog post to this development (primarily because of the unclear human testing time frame projections involved — more on that later).  However, this discovery soon started getting widespread global coverage.  More importantly, 3 readers e-mailed me about it and probably another 10 posted about it in the comments to the last blog post!  All the main hair loss forums have threads on this subject too.  Here is some of the global coverage:

— BBC.

— Popular Mechanics.

— Daily Mail.

— Telegraph.

— Deutsche Welle.

— Mic.

— And from the horse’s own mouth.

The most debated issue on the hair loss forums has been the time frame before this is tested in humans. According to the BBC article “Researchers say this success will take 5-10 years to translate into humans.”  According to the Mic article, “Optimistically, Tsuji said, they’re looking at sometime in the next 10 years.”  According to the Popular Mechanics article, RIKEN researcher “Miho Ogawa estimates the first human trials will come within the next 10 years.”

I think that “within 10 years” could end up being in less than 5 years. I have three reasons for my optimism —

  1. Japan’s rapidly aging and declining population will need regenerative stem cell therapies well before most other countries in the world.
  2. As I have discussed on this blog many times in the past year or two, the Japanese government is nowadays extremely focused at speeding up human clinical trials in the regenerative medicine sector  that will allow for short cuts such as skipping stage 3 clinical trials.  I see no reason why they could also not speed up the process of moving from animal to human trials.
  3. When it comes to funding, Japan is a rich nation that can afford to spend substantially on such research.  Both via government funding and private funding (including foreign based private funding).  On a related not, in my last brief items of interest post from March, I discussed the recent collaboration between RIKEN and private sector company Meiji Seika related to hair loss (albeit it seems their might be some incorrect info in that announcement).  Also, in my second last brief items of interest post from February, I discussed another collaboration between RIKEN and Adjuvant Cosmetics.

Finally, it should be noted that more than for hair loss sufferers, this research is especially relevant to those with serious skin injuries and burns.  Moreover, these methods could one day be used to create functioning organs that are suitable for transplantation.  I recently read that once we have self-driving cars, traffic fatalities will decline to negligible levels, resulting in a major increase in already serious organ donor shortages.

Aclaris Therapeutics, Angela Christiano, JAK Inhibitors, Neal Walker, Ruxolitinib, Tofacitinib, Vixen Pharmaceuticals

So JAK Inhibitors Could yet Still Cure AGA?

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I had a lengthy new post planned for today, but need to delay it due to a potentially great new development in the world of JAK inhibitors.

JAK Inhibitors and Androgenetic Alopecia

In 2014, the biggest news in the hair loss world involved two separate developments related to JAK inhibitors Ruxolitinib and Tofacitinib curing alopecia areata. While those developments were incredibly exciting and groundbreaking, unfortunately the vast majority (>95 percent) of balding men and women suffer from androgenic alopecia (AGA) rather than alopecia areata (AA).

However, in 2014, Dr. Brett King did suggest that there was a possibility that JAK inhibitors could also cure androgenic alopecia during his interview with Spencer Kobren. In my own analysis, I have always stated that for many androgen related hair loss sufferers, perhaps there is also an inflammatory component. Hence the increased itching and dandruff. Such cases could benefit from JAK inhibitors.

Thereafter, there was no news on this potential cure for AGA for a while, until in 2015 the one and only Dr. Angela Christiano posted results (albeit in mice) that suggested that JAK inhibitors could treat androgenic alopecia. Moreover, this could occur via a topical (as opposed to oral) formulation of the two main candidate drugs: Ruxolitinib and Tofacitinib.

Thereafter, silence yet again for a long time. Even worse, Christopher1 on hairsite stated that JAK inhibitors did not cure his androgenic alopecia. He seems like a very reliable forum member over there so I was disappointed. However, the one good thing is that we do not know how accurately people are using JAK inhibitors at the moment. Some are using off-label products, some are going to inexperienced physicians and some are trying topical experiments. So I still had some hope. In any event, please be aware of the risks involved in these experiments and do not try them yourself. Always see a physician before trying any drug to treat hair loss.

Further contributing to the mood swings, on March 5 2016, a commentator named “Rick” posted an interesting comment on this blog that was largely ignored. Although I hate to trust any one such commentator (especially since in this case he is also using Minoxidil as part of his treatment), I will still paste his comment below since it was missed by so many blog readers:

“Just want you all to know that I have had very good success. With using tofacitinib 30% mixed with minoxidil. I have been doing this process topically for 3 months and have achieved full follicle growth! I will update you more in 30 days. And yes that is for male pattern baldness.”

Perhaps “nasa_rs” has influenced me too much and I am looking for any positive signs?

Aclaris Therapeutics Acquires Vixen Pharmaceuticals

In any event the whole reason for this post is that today came news that Aclaris Therapeutics was buying Vixen Pharmaceuticals (Dr. Angela Christiano and Columbia University affiliated company). At first, when I read a one paragraph news alert summary of this acquisition, I did not think much of this development. This is largely because in my recent trips to Aclaris’ website, I remember reading that they only deal with Alopecia Areata related drugs.

However, I then read a lengthier article about this latest acquisition and some things (see red font below) clearly stood out:

“As a result of this transaction, Aclaris acquired worldwide rights to intellectual property licensed to Vixen by Columbia University covering the use of certain Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor compounds for the treatment of alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia and other dermatological conditions.”

“The acquisition of the Vixen intellectual property and the licensed JAKPharm and Key Organics compounds solidifies Aclaris’ presence in the JAK inhibitor space and allows us to broaden our focus in hair loss to include androgenetic alopecia, often referred to as female or male pattern baldness,” said Neal Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aclaris.

“We are delighted to enter into this agreement with Aclaris for the development of JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, and other hair loss disorders,” said Dr. Christiano.”

In conclusion, welcome back “nasa_rs“.