Advangen, Cellmid, FGF-5, Midkine

FGF-5 Inhibition and Hair Growth

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In January 2015, Australian company Cellmid was granted an Australian patent for the use of midkine (NEGF-2) in hair loss prevention. The company was also granted a similar patent for the UK market in July 2014. However, it seems like Cellmid is most well known for its FGF-5 inhibiting hair growth product called Advangen.

FGF-5 Inhibiton and Hair Growth

Cellmid’s Advangen line of hair loss products were developed based on old research from Japan related to fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5 or FGF5) inhibition and resulting hair growth.

FGF-5 accelerates hair follicle transition from anagen (growth) phase to catagen (cessation or regression) phase. This results in more rapid progression to to telogen/resting phase. Make sure to also read my post on growth factors in PRP.

Cellmid used to have a separate website for Advangen, and it had attachments to three FGF-5 related studies. Edit: Not you can find them on évolis website. The two Japanese studies are especially interesting and well worth reading in their entirety. Update: For more recent information, see my post on Évolis.

The first of these studies is from 2007. It concludes that Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract (SO extract) is a reliable FGF-5 inhibitor. Consequently, Advangen has since developed a number of Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract containing FGF5 blocker products to combat hair loss.

The second of these studies is from 2002. It concludes that FGF5 inhibits hair growth by blocking dermal papilla cell activation.  Work focusing on dermal papilla (DP) cells and nearby dermal sheath cup (DSC) cells is today among the most import areas of hair loss research.

More recently, a 2014 study found that FGF-5 is a crucial regulator of hair length in humans. However, it seems like the study only focused on forearm and eyelash hair.  I would venture to guess that similar results would be realized on human scalp hair.

It should be noted that fibroblast growth factors 1 (FGF-1), 2 (FGF-2), 7 (FGF-7), 9 (FGF-9) and 10 (FGF-10) have all been shown to promote hair growth. In contrast to FGF-5, which discourages hair growth.

Celebrity Hair Loss, Calum Best, Celebrity Hair Transplant, Hairpiece, John Travolta, Toupee

Celebrity Hair Transplants and Hairpieces

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Hair Transplant Popularity

— A great detailed two page GQ article from Joel Stein about his efforts to reverse his baldness. He ultimately gets a hair transplant at Bosley, and includes his before and after photo. His hair transplant surgeon was Dr. Edwin Suddleson. His 1,600 grafts cost $11,000. Fairly high compared to what a hair transplant costs in most developing countries. Note that Mr. Stein suprisingly got a strip procedure. Nowadays, FUE hair transplants are far more popular than FUT (strip) ones.

— 33 year old Calum Best’s third hair transplant. He paid £6,000 for his procedure, which is the same amount that he paid for first two surgeries.

— John Travolta decided to show up at the gym at 3am, without his hairpiece. Make sure to read my other post on Mr. Travolta and his hair. Other celebrities with hairpieces include Sir Elton John and Nicolas Cage.

— Make sure to read my updated post on the best shampoos for thinning hair and hair loss. While none of these products will bring back hair to totally bald regions of the scalp, they can thicken up existing hair.

— Replicel will be presenting at the Biotech Showcase 2015 conference. I have covered this company many times, along with its Japanese partner Shiseido.