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.

Hasson & Wong, Farmacia Parati, Liposomal, Topical Finasteride

Dr. Hasson Updates us on Topical Finasteride

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In June 2014, I wrote a popular post on topical finasteride that I  have since updated a few times. Shortly thereafter, someone from the Hasson & Wong clinic in Vancouver, Canada e-mailed me. They wanted to let me know that they now prescribe topical finasteride for hair loss.

Fast forward to several days ago, and Dr. Victor Hasson posted a detailed comment in that original blog post. I thought that his comment deserved its own post. Here is Dr. Hasson’s update:

Our topical finasteride solution that we have been using for the past 2 years has proven to be very effective. It has been used primarily in patients who had been experiencing side effects on the oral drug. These patients have been free of side effects on the topical formulation.

This is a good sign that the drug is unlikely to be going systemic via cutaneous permeation. We are currently performing tests using Franz diffusion cells with the The University of Milan to get more data.

Once we have secured a reliable source for dutasteride we will start testing topical formulations with this drug as it will likely be more effective.

A new liposomal formulation of topical finasteride is currently available to our European patients. It has been developed in collaboration with Farmacia Parati in Italy. This preparation can be obtained from this company. You will require a physicians prescription for this, as the formulation needs to be compounded on a case by case basis. This is in order to comply with European and FDA regulations.

Victor Hasson MD

I am impressed by the efforts that the Hassson & Wong clinic is putting into creating their own topical finasteride and topical dutasteride products. A 2007 study on liposomal delivery of finasteride suggests that this route  will be effective.

If the results from these topical products consistently prove to be as good or superior to oral finasteride, this development will be a game changer. Especially if there are fewer side effects.