2018: Will It Bring A New Hair Cure?
A Happy New Year to all of you from Follicle Thought. I’ve always enjoyed doing the year ahead preview posts and this one is no exception. A new year does bring us new opportunities and should be a reason for renewed hope. This is also the first year since I’ve started Follicle Thought that a clinical stage treatment is (semi) scheduled for market release. That therapy and a potential marvel from Italy are at the top of the list for change this year. It’s no surprise they are the first two treatments from the Ultimate Guide to Hair Regeneration 2018.
The Top Prospects
Shiseido – RCH01
For several years now we have marveled at the prospect of RCH-01, Replicel’s hair growth therapy, being released to the Japanese market through Shiseido under Japan’s expedited regulations for cell therapies. The two companies agreed on a licensing deal back in July 2013. Now, to actually look at the calendar and see it says “2018” seems a bit euphoric. Don’t get it misconstrued, this technology still has a lot to prove. But, it is the closest we have been to seeing a next-gen hair growth treatment make it to consumer approval in the last 25 years. That’s a fact. The trial that Shiseido has been implementing for RCH-01 over the past 1.5 years serves as a proverbial “phase 3” trial, in which upon its success Shiseido has the opportunity to market the therapy to consumers while continuing to complete other larger clinical trials for RCH-01.
Here’s where RCH-01 stands, in a nutshell. Previously, the treatment had completed only one clinical trial all the way back in 2009 (wow, 2009?). The initial trial showed efficacy. Not a ton of efficacy, but efficacy. Multiple subjects received an improvement in hair density above 15%. At that time, Replicel noted that insufficient delivery and preservation methods of the cultured hair cells may have lead to diminished results in some of the trial subjects. Since then, the company has been working hard to improve many aspects of the product development to correct their mistakes. Subsequently, the trial with Shiseido launched around July 2016 and here we are. They had time to get it right and make improvements. I am confident that Shiseido administered this therapy efficiently in their trial, the only thing that remains to be seen is exactly what it’s really worth.The results from Shiseido this year are really everything you want to know…
“The” Brotzu
You’ve heard of it. You’ve googled it. You’ve wondered how it’s pronounced. The lotion which originally spun off from a treatment for vascular disease in diabetes patients is as enigmatic as it gets in the hair game. But, we hope the mystery will come to an uplifting conclusion in 2018. According to Fidia Pharma, the Italian pharmaceutical company who acquired the rights to manufacture Dr. Brotzu’s formula, 2018 is very likely the year we get the Brotzu lotion.
The product is a thoughtful combination of three key ingredients to fight hair loss; an anti-inflammatory – Gamma Linolenic Acid, an anti-dht agent – ‘S-Equol’, and a metabolic enhancer – L-Carnitine. Their effectiveness is further enhanced by adding liposomes to the formula to increase scalp penetration. Various formulations of the product have been tested by Dr. Brotzu himself on patients with alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia. One photo displayed by Brotzu at an alopecia areata conference shows significant reversal of AA in a young girl. We have been told that Fidia Pharma has conducted their own trials of the product over the past two years or so. Everyone is eager for updates from the company, but I’d like to take this time to remind people that flooding a company’s inbox is not an effective way to get more info about a product release. My final thoughts are: “it’s going to be weird when this product actually has a name.” 😉
Honorable Mentions
While the two treatments listed above really do represent the greatest potential hair growth treatments that we have coming in 2018, here are some other worthwhile milestones slated for 2018:
- Setipiprant trial estimated to complete in June 2018. If it finishes on time, that would almost certainly lead to a data readout before year’s end.
- Follicum phase 2a trial on the scalp to begin in the first quarter of 2018 and read out data sometime later this year.
- PolarityTE and the results from their first applications on wound healing. The company’s platform is miraculously approved for use without going through the 3-phase clinical trial process. PolarityTE’s lead product candidate SkinTE is aimed at regenerating skin tissue. If initial results are successful they will also pursue a hair regeneration product. Data should come 1st quarter 2018.
- I would be remiss if I did not include our old friend, the Wild Card. For those new to this site, a “wild card” is a product that is announced unexpectedly with an imminent market release date. To be considered a real wild card, the product/treatment has to be legitimate. Truth is, there’s always a few companies shuffling their deck of Uno.
Until next time, Be well.
Posted in Brotzu Lotion, PolarityTE, Replicel, Shiseido
No mention of Follica. Should be out this year or early 2019?
Thanks Jimbo, I just updated the Ultimate Guide and now this comment. To my knowledge there is no date set for a new trial by Follica. I know they are working on it, but unless there was something set for 2018 I did not want to speculate. That is the simple reason they are not in the article. Hope this clears everything up for all.
Hi Admin,
So according to you this year is the year the end of baldness?
RCH-01 is going to be the big change in hair industry in 2018?
No, I hope you did read the article.
I said we have a potential here for a new treatment from Replicel/Shiseido in Japan, we don’t know exactly how well it will work.
Thank you so much for all your work!
Not sure how I should respond to this really, but I’ll just say “I’m not wasting my time”
Joeseph that was for guest not you. You do a great job. Much appreciated
Thank you Chris2, your comments are always welcomed around here. I decided to delete his comment.
Any word from Histogen yet or have they pushed it back to 2019?
There have been repeated delays, I have no info. My best guess is post 2019 in Mexico.
Gail Naughton in Allure magazine, don’t have the date but it’s recent and on their website: “The U.S. trials are planned to commence in 2018; we expect it to gain approval in Mexico first, perhaps in 2020, and then in the U.S. sometime after that.”
Is Histogen dead?
So let’s wait another 2 to 4 years for hair cloning?
You think Sheishedo not going to make it this year?
They determine that choice for themselves, I’m hoping for the best. Let’s see
Seba, not all comments from people that think differently are disallowed , only comments that are deemed toxic for other readers are disallowed. I respect the fact that you are skeptical of everything in the hair treatment world, that is fine, however, this site promotes working towards a cure. I appreciate you as a reader of Follicle Thought.
I second this approach; positive conversation, stating known facts and banning abuse and speculative remarks. Thanks for this page. My favorite of all.
You’re the first reader to echo those sentiments and I really, really appreciate it Ken. Thank you
OK so in support of Seba i’ll say hairloss is very upsetting and there are a lot of broken promises but the day is approaching where several treatments will break out and dramatically change the issue of hairloss. Every little piece to the puzzle contributes to a full picture.
Seba, I’d love to hear what you imagine the cure to be. Regrowth or just stopping hair loss? Cloning follicles or cell injections, etc? What do you envision for a cure?
Awesome, thanks man. It’s good to hear.
No worries man, just trying to keep things kosher around here 😉
La cura es el Agua oxigenada y Alcohol de Romero entren a mi Grupo de whsaap 584122082832. y veran es garantizado.
🙂
I feel like we are playing “go fish” rather than Uno, but eventually you make a catch.
I like it
Follica might have something good but they have released no clinical info yet. (Edited)
Follica plans to start pivital phase 3 trials in the first quarter of 2018. Just an FYI admin:)
Thanks! where is the source please?
Someone said Follica plans to start phase 3 trials in the first quarter of 2018.
In this article from April,14,2017 Daphne Zohar from Follica says Follica will be releasing some clinical data soon and is working to get FDA approval.
I thought their trials would be finished.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/04/14/meet-one-most-important-medical-entrepreneurs-you-never-heard/dfZFRbcdtjLcqyxci9vKlM/story.html
I’m very interested in S-Equol DHT inhibitor. I hadn’t heard of it until this update. Does anyone know how this works? I’ve been reading a little bit about it on some boards. Some are saying that research has shown that it binds to DHT as opposed to preventing the conversion of DHT from testosterone. Does this mean it would act like RU58841 if applied topically?
When will this be available commercially.
We are eagerly following since 5 years. and we had big expectation in 2018
Can you please post the image of trial on humans.
what is meant by improvement of 15% from base line.
It’s up to Shiseido if they will commercialize it this year
Hi Admin,
Have you heard about clinic called forhair?
They offered stem cell therapy ?
I have contacted them and they said that they offer this time of procedure
Their website you can check (Link Edited)
Thanks
Thanks for continued support of Follicle Thought.
Dr. Cole’s office (Forhair) is an interesting clinic that is dedicated to advancing hair restoration options. The WNT product in the link you shared has not been proven to be effective yet and is an all natural product. Also the doctor has talked about ways of administering stem cells however this does not involve multiplying the cells and is a work in progress. I will wait for further published data and general consensus before covering those topics in depth.
Hey guys,
On the subject of RCH-01/ Replicel, how effective will it be to combat hair loss if indeed it is released in late 2018? Will it give a Norwood 3 a full head of hair or is it something that will give modest results like minoxidil?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts seeing as this was forecast to shake things up this year.
Lads?
Nobody knows, don’t get your hopes up, sorry.
Thanks Lars. No worries, I will probably get a HT this summer. I am a bit of a hairloss veteran. I have had two already and had temporary a few SMP in Italy with Milena Lardi. AMA
I have had alopecia totalis since October 1989 following an auto accident 19 April 1988.
I have accepted my condition psychologically. I married in 1993 and have a wonderful daughter born 1995.
So many alopecia clinical trials centre upon traumatic after effects.
I am offering myself for research work from the perspective of someone who accepts (at least at conscious day time level) the condition.
I dont wear a hat, have never worn a wig .
For the first 12 months , when my scalp showed very pale, I received verbal and physical abuse but I either ignored it or fought back, so now no abuse .
I realise people may say things behind my back..but if they do – so what.
There is no family or genetic pre condition for my alopecia.
My offer to help is based on my belief that the root causes are discoverable, that parts of the brain are engaged with hair growth control , so mri scan and stem cell analysis could uncover biochemical causes .
I hope I”m making my point : I believe anxiety can be its own treatment inhibitor.
I feel relatively anxiety free and so could help develop research..ie I dont expect treatment.
Its about richer understanding.
I recommend you read on gluten’s role in alopecia totalis.
Hello, I saw an artical, and on tv that hair cloning was happening now. there is a doctor in california who took some removed some hair folical and sent it to England. This happened in April of last year.
The patient, was then to fly to England to have a complete transplant withen 90 days. I see no news since then. Anyone know anything?
I am curious how the outcome was.
Hi Steve, thanks for commenting. That was the company HairClone and the man may have been getting his follicles banked and preserved for future treatments. However, he did not undergo a hair cloning procedure, HairClone does not have a treatment protocol finalized yet. Perhaps in the next few months we will hear an update about that.
Do you have any comments on Regenera Activia? Is it worth it? Are there any positive results?
Thanks
Ana, thanks for visiting and commenting. I’ve actually never heard of that particular product. Best wishes
Great post. Feeling good. Till then ay suggestions to keep hair healthy? Rogain ? What should I follow, I lost 50% of hair in last 7 years. What should I do to prevent? Thanks everyone.
First of all thanks for updation on new. teachnique.
Please first market the product in India, we ar e suffering from hair loss and baldness due to lot of bloody chemicals in hair products.We need good solution like rch-01 hair regneration technique which is better than three more nonsense fda approved medicine minoxidle and finastarides and also including that hair transplantation surgery.
subscribed
This may be the year it happens
The alopecia is increasing day by day whether it in youth or old age group which has let to various alopecia drugs while very few are effective.