Update: November 17, 2020
See the bottom half of this post for more details on Smart Hair Transplants (SHT) and J.Hewitt.
The TissUse team published two interesting new studies in 2020. The first from April was related to hair growth in reconstructed human skin. The second just came out this month and discusses the microfollicle as a model of the human hair follicle.
TissUse Responses Regarding J.Hewitt
More relevant, reader “PaulR” corresponded with TissUse several weeks ago and below are their responses.
Hello,
I have been interested in TissUse’s new hair cloning technology for the past few years. I am aware that J.Hewitt has a license to test this technology in Japan. I have e-mailed this company, but have not received any reply. I have a few questions about the process of this new technology.
Question 1) Are the pre-clinical tests complete for this technology? I have not read about any animal tests. Does this mean that such tests need to be completed before human trials can commence?
Answer 1) Animal tests have not been performed so far. However, animal tests are not required in Japan to initiate first in man trials if one can show solid in vitro data proofing safety of the method. Japan is unique here as other countries or regions like the US or Europe would require animal tests.
Question 2) I read online that J.Hewitt had planned on conducting a clinical trial last year. But this doesn’t seem to have happened as they cannot find a cell processing company. Do you have any information about when human trials will start? Can we expect this to happen in 2021, or are we a few more years away from trials?
Answer 2) The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the timeline of J.Hewitt. They are now continuing to look for a GMP manufacturing unit with the required capabilities to produce the transplants. If this is successful we believe first trials can start in 2021.
Question 3) TissUse is obviously a very innovative company. Are you confident this technology can change the ways current hair transplants are conducted? Does your company see this being available to clients in Japan in the next few years, or is it 5-10 years away?
Answer 3) Japan takes a unique approach to these new cell-based therapies and is actively promoting their development. It is therefore possible that the technology can be available in Japan in the next couple of years should the clinical trials be successful. The outcome of the first clinical trial will very much define the timeline for a potential market launch.
GMP Manufacturers
Also of note, two months ago, I contacted TissUse too and got the below reply:
“J.Hewitt is in discussion with a couple of GMP manufacturers for the SHT technology. We expect to hear of the outcome of these talks soon. Apparently it is still difficult to find a manufacturer due to the ongoing Corona crisis but J.Hewitt definitely made some progress here.”
Best regards,
The TissUse Team
April 22, 2019
TissUse and J.Hewitt Partnership
Earlier this month, Germany’s TissUse entered into an agreement with Japan’s J.Hewitt that may have significant implications for hair loss sufferers. This agreement is in regards to the licensing and further development of the former’s Smart Hair Transplant (SHT) technology in Japan.
Fuji Maru from Japan first noticed this development and has covered it in detail here. He has been in contact with the company’s CEO Jon Knight.
TissUse also has a press release page where you can find the story towards the top for the time being.
Among the main scientists who developed TissUse’s technology is the well known Dr. Roland Lauster. He is now on the company’s advisory board. In the past, Dr. Gerd Lindner also used to be on that list.
As has been mentioned numerous times by myself and many others over the past several years, Japan’s government is heavily promoting regenerative medicine in the rapidly aging country. One of the main ways it is doing so is via speeding up the usually lengthy and expensive clinical trial process (which is common in most developed countries).
Smart Hair Transplants
In the case of SHT, the process is autologous in nature. So clinical trials are possibly not required, or will be fairly short in duration if required.
Smart hair transplants theoretically provide unlimited donor hair. By isolating cells from the dermal papilla and then culturing and multiplying them, this procedure supposedly forms neopapillae. According to TissUse:
“Neopapillae are the precursors of hair follicles which have been shown to grow hair follicles under controlled conditions in vitro. Each of these neopapilla has the potential to form a brand new hair follicle.”
Is this real? Please stop joking with us.
Love the good news! Do these companies have any proof of concept or links to research findings?
I hope this is the holy grail we’re all waiting for.
Hey Rich Coulson! Fancy seeing you here!
This seems very promising, but haven’t we heard this before regarding Tsuji? cause I thought Tsuji also provides unlimited donor hair from small punch biopsies via cloning and subsequent transplantation.
In which phase of development is this?
Will this be released firstly in Japan because of the law requirements there?
Any possible release date??
Many questions because of my excitement!
I was literally about to bite the bullet and even though im terrified start on finasteride. Im hoping that more information comes through soon to hold out hope!
Hi Andy, I was a hairloss sufferer too. I have been on finasteride and I can tell you its a complete waste of time and effort. It doesn’t work. Its a perceived misconception throughout these years. It is good enough to just SLOW hairloss. It doesn’t STOP or REVERSE them.
At least five years away!
It’s reassuring, though, that different groups are developing or intend to develop cell-based approaches.
By 2030, I firmly believe, effective treatments will have been well-established.
No sooner than 2025, though. Hehe
they replied to me!
Thank you very much for reaching out to us and for your interest in our SHT technology.
We are still in the very late preclinical development stage but plan to move to a first clinical trial in the next years. We have just recently signed an agreement with a Japanese company to bring the treatment to the Japanese market
However, this also means that it will still take a couple of more years before SHT will be broadly available as an alternative to conventional hair transplantation methods.
Best regards,
The TissUse Team
They just in January had first person paralyzed use stem cells in surgery and he regained control of upper body. Is even lifting weights. Since I dont know if I can post links here type in @admin …these keywords:
First Paralyzed Human Treated With Stem Cells Has Now Regained His Upper Body Movement
Thanks. Most links are ok, but some go to spam folder and I miss them since there are 100s of spam comments in there daily.
Thank you very much for reaching out to us and for your interest in our SHT technology
We are still in the very late preclinical development stage but plan to move to a first clinical trial in the next years. We have just recently signed an agreement with a Japanese company to bring the treatment to the Japanese market.
However, this also means that it will still take a couple of more years before SHT will be broadly available as an alternative to conventional hair transplantation methods
Sounds very encouraging. Is this the same technology that Invitrohair is planning for Europe? Does anyone know??
The reason I believe this is positive news is because it will remind the other major players in the race that they cannot just sit on their IPR and clinical data. If they don’t release something soon they will be confined to history, just like the early enemies of Microsoft and Apple.
Yes Scott absolutely correct!!!
Didn’t intercytex and Bosley both try and fail with this/ similar tech?
I guess Tsuji will come before this, but it’s really good that there are other groups pushing for the cure.
Yes this is the most advanced technology for hair cloning ( even better than Tsuji) but it will be available later than Tsuji
Why later and why is it better?!? Tsuji create follicles whereas this is just the precursor seeds that may bot grow
Very intersting, especially since they mentioned market release in a couple years. 2 to 3 years. If that is the case this is huge news. Good to see another player in the game. We shall see what happens……
You know seeing 3 4 companies competing is when you know were moving into reality like californias green rush there’s delivery bilboards and walgreens selling marijuana unheard of in the south I had to take pictures for people to believe it. The more competition the better for all of us. There will be a strong sense of urgency when Tsuji lights the score board because then its about survival and the rush is on.
Very positive news here admin. When we start talking unlimited donor hair were talking about a real permanent solution not some cream or pill with 15% whatever. the real deal.
Agreed, the only solution to fit all people is this. If I was a rich man id be backing one of the main contenders right now.
I firmly believe this as well. The market is unbelievably big, and growing, which is one of the first things investors and typical MBA folks look to. If one of these actors get traction, there will be total gold rushing and land grabbing going on. These treatments becoming mainstream again means mass production = radical price drop. In a few years it can literally go from hundreds of thousands to just several thousands. Of course, this makes it smarter to wait, as it will probably be even more effective and even safer a few years after mass market launch. Exciting times.
It’s way too early in the game to get excited about a company (using DP cells) that has not even completed a proof-of-concept yet. Especially considering the known issue of human DP cells losing inductivity when cultured. Solve this issue, and the delivery methodology becomes moot.
That said, the direction of this research is surely interesting.
I believe Terskikh and Tsuji have already stated that has been achieved in their labs years back now. Some of these articles have been saved and stored on this website.
They can’t multiply them more than x1000.
That’s enough for the Organ Germ Method, but I doubt it’s so for the DP Method.
Still, more players is always good!
Man if this is true then I could probably get the beard I’ve always wanted as well as a great hairline haha balding with sparse facial hair is a tough look
Feel you, same here bro.
I guess Japan is more relaxed about side effects, it one of the only two countries where Dutasteride is actually approve for Hair loss and even at higher dose than for prostate.
Any news about the test results?
I really hope that this company will pull through. They are a company that have said to be close to clinical trials in Japan. I often wonder why they don’t seem to gain more attraction online.
How close is close to getting the required cell processing plant?
Nobody knows. The info you just read is all the info we have
Is the method is same as Tsuji?
Why wouldn’t they start trials before finding production facilities, wouldn’t industrializing the technology rather be an issue if laboratory results are promising?
Admin can you ban Jan please all he literally does is come on different sites and talk negative and the only and the only thing he talks about is tsuji it’s a pattern we all know he’s a troll he will deny it but it’s pretty obvious.
check out this guy, used FOX04, actually looks pretty good. video is on the bottom of the page time stamp=1:42
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/22/israeli-scientists-claim-new-study-reverses-aging-process
why cant they do this oxygen treatment on peoples scalps?
It’s a matter of 2-3 years, don’t despair … I’ve been waiting for 28 years …