Biosplice Therapeutics, Dalosirvat, Samumed, SM04554

Biosplice Therapeutics: Rebrand of Samumed

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Update: February 2022

Samumed Ends Hair Loss Program

The biggest disgrace in the history of the hair loss world just happened. At least on par with the past failures of Histogen, Aderans and Intercytex. Update 2023: And now Follica too.

Biospice (formerly Samumed) just layed off its staff and axed its baldness program. After fooling us for a decade and implying that FDA approval was close. Their insane valuation was always a red flag. But I still got carried away after they finished Phase 3 clinical trials in 2021.

Biosplice Therapeutics
Biosplice Therapeutics Logo.

In a surprising twist, Samumed just rebranded itself as Biosplice Therapeutics (San Diego). CEO Osman Kibar has stepped down. The new CEO is Cevdet Samikoglu. In 2021, the company is supposed to release much anticipated results of Phase 3 clinical trials for its hair loss product.

Biosplice Therapeutics (formerly Samumed)

Biosplice also just raised $150 million in new equity financing investment. This latest round of financing will allow the company to accelerate the development and launch of its osteoarthritis drug candidate Lorecivivint.

The name Biosplice (rather than Samumed) more closely resembles the company’s alternative pre-mRNA splicing technology. It seems like splicing has becoming the company’s new buzzword or brand. Rather than the prior Wnt signaling pathway. From their updated site:

“Biosplice’s mission is to restore health by delivering first-in-class therapies that harness alternative splicing.”

Biosplice’s small molecule technology will make use of alternative splicing to target the CLK/DYRK family of kinases. Oncology and cancer treatment (Cirtuvivint) will be a key focus area of research. Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative condition will also remain key target areas of treatment.

The renamed company already has a short wikipedia entry.

Dalosirvat (formerly SM04554)

I was initially concerned at the rebranding and the new company’s focus shifting away from the Wnt pathway. However, then I noticed that their androgenetic alopecia drug has been renamed from SM04554 to Dalosirvat.

In my opinion, this is good news. If their soon-to-release Phase 3 clinical trial results are expected to be poor, why go through a product renaming?

Update: The guys on HLT seem skeptical. Some think that the renamed company might be preparing itself for an initial public offering (IPO).

Regarding Dalosirvat, the redone website says:

“The ongoing phase 2/3 study is fully enrolled with data availability expected in 2021.”

More information on the Wnt pathway activator Dalosirvat hair growth molecule can be found here.

Dexpanthenol, Hyundai Pharm

Dexpanthenol for Hair Loss from Hyundai Pharm

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Dexpanthenol could be of use in treating hair loss in men and women. At the very least, in can improve the inflammation, itching and scalp discomfort that are often associated with androgenetic alopecia.

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

South Korea based Hyundai Pharm just released Dexpanthenol based over-the-counter (OTC) tablets to treat hair loss. The brand name is Dexnoxyl (image on right).

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 Dexpanthenol.
TS Shampoo with Dexpanthenol (aka Panthenol).

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 of the best 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 La’Dor 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. Results were found to be positive, although the link seems to have disappeared. One of this blog’s readers pointed out that we need before and after photos before trusting these findings.

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 (sprays, serums and topical lotions). 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.