4-Aminopyridine Wound Healing & Hair Growth
An FDA approved drug is currently being researched for its repurposed potentials in wound regeneration and hair regrowth.
4-Aminopyridine is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It’s marketed under the brand name Ampyra and is classified as a potassium channel blocker. This compound, also known as 4-AP or dalfampridine, was the subject of a peer-reviewed study headed by Dr. John Elfar of the University of Arizona College of Medicine. The study titled “4-Aminopyridine Induces Nerve Growth Factor to Improve Skin Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration” was published on July 8, 2022 in Biomedicines. The abstract of this study notes that along with a great enhancement to skin wound healing, “hair follicle neogenesis within the healed wounds was increased.” A timeline of photographic data comparing wounds treated with either saline or 4-AP was included in the study.
4-Aminopyridine Capsules (Wikipedia)
To get more clarity on the potentials and goals of this research, Follicle Thought conducted a brief interview with Dr.John Elfar who was kind enough to share some very interesting insights with our audience.
Interview With Dr. John Elfar
FT: As an orthopedic surgeon, how did you get involved in hair related research?
JE: In orthopedic surgery, the main focus is on tissue healing. Most people believe that our primary goal is bone healing. In fact, we are concerned with all the tissues that get injured in trauma. In complex mangling limb injury, skin and muscle wounds are very common. Some of those wounds are the key determinants of limb survival. There is nothing worse than a limb that must be amputated because a wound simply cannot heal. All wound healing depends on stem cells and progenitor cells that reside inside the hair follicle. This is why, as an orthopedic surgeon, my group is very interested in the hair follicle.
FT: What specific lines of research are you currently involved in regarding hair follicle biology?
JE: The hair follicle is a wonderfully complex structure. Beneath it is a source of progenitor cells which are used to regenerate wound defects. Our research has shown that a drug previously unknown to have an effect on hair growth, has tremendous effect on the hair follicle. Stem cells and hair growth respond to this drug. What’s more, the drug has been used for other purposes in humans for three decades. This drug is 4-aminopyridine, and we have patented all aspects of this new discovery. No one had previously thought to look at this drug for its effects on wound healing or hair growth. In our preliminary studies recently published, we found that this drug had large and profound effects on hair growth and wound closure in standard models of healing used in medical research.
FT: 4-Aminopyridine is quite an interesting development in the hair loss space as it is an FDA approved drug and could potentially be used off-label. What are the next steps in terms of developing 4-AP as a hair loss treatment? Projected timeline to a clinical trial?
JE: No one can say for sure what the timeline of this kind of discovery is. It is likely very quick. The reason is that FDA approval is more streamlined for drugs that are already used in humans. This drug is known to be safe and is used in a frail population. We have also developed and patented local formulations of this drug for use at the scene of injuries. These local formulations can be adopted, with appropriate funding, to allow topical application. The ingredients in our formulations are also FDA approved for other uses. We think that hair growth developments surrounding this novel treatment will be ready in the coming years, and we believe the trials in human patients can proceed right now.
FT: Are you currently looking for strategic partners for this research?
JE: Yes we are. My colleagues and I have collaborated with medical experts to form a company that is currently seeking funding from strategic partners to pursue these discoveries. No one knows what the future will bring, but we do know that the future is coming quickly.
Solaxa Inc.
In Dr. Elfar’s response to the last question, you noticed he mentioned forming a company to translate these discoveries into the clinic. After a small amount of digging, I’ve found that company to be Solaxa Inc. Solaxa’s website is a landing page which only mentions nerve injury treatment for now, but it’s certain that the wound healing and hair growth applications are within its scope.
While first acknowledging that this research was completed in a preclinical animal model and there is a lot of work to be done before it is proved to work in humans, there are upsides here. Perhaps the greatest facet is 4-aminopyridine is already FDA approved, and thus, it has the potential to become a “wild card.” Can this drug create decreased scarring or skin regeneration when applied to human wounds? Could it even regrow some hair follicles in wounds? Can it be used as a topical hair growth agent? Will it work synergistically when combined with drugs like verteporfin or Acell? These are all very relevant questions, and because this medicine is readily available and already approved (like verteporfin) we should be getting answers to these questions sooner than later.
Posted in 4-Aminopyridine, Hair Growth Treatment
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Seems promising!
Another amazing addition to our pipeline. Cautiously optimistic but hey, we are that much closer. 2-5 more years and we’ll have one or two concrete solutions to add to the already existing arsenal of treatments. Thank you FT.
Things keep looking better and better. I am not surprised that it might be an existing drug repurposed with micro needling that becomes the game changer. Interesting how advancements work… Fingers crossed that more of these type of discoveries occur.
Wait so the drug already exists? What are we waiting for, group buy that sh*t right away and trial it combined with needling!!!
Something is not clear to me, if minoxidil opens potassium channels, and 4-aminopyridine blocks those same channels.
It means that minoxidil has no effect.
ah, I also noticed that correlation you pointed out. This doesn’t mean that minoxidil has no effect, it means that we don’t know everything about minoxidil’s effect and 4-AP’s (potential) effect on hair growth. It’s widely known that the mechanism of minoxidil on hair growth is not fully understood.
Please let this drug replace minoxidil. I shudder when I think of all the damage minoxidil is doing to my body through the increasing PGE-2 levels.
Please let the drug work for hair transplant surgery.
It’s just doing different things. Blocking the channel’s isn’t causing hair growth. It’s causing wounds to heal with hair follicles intact, rather than scarring.
Much research will be needed to figure this conundrum out. We are seeking funding to look at this specifically.
Thank you for the interview, Dr. Elfar. You mentioned that you believed human trials could begin right now. Do you have any aggressive/conservative timelines for when that would happen? Thanks!
So many new developments on the horizon, the next few years will be interesting. I have my hopes on SCUBE3 lol.
Nice.
Definitely makes me want to stick with the baseline plan and transplant the fuck up in about 2 years when alot of this is sorted out.
Plus potential serious maintenance solutions coming too yahoo.
Hope you are having a good summer guys.
Hello FT,
Thanks for the article. Sounds very interesting. Hopefully this comes sooner than later. But I’m glad there’s another player in the game.
Thank you MasterV.
Is this just relevant to the donor area of a transplant…or also for application with microneedling?
WH, we don’t know yet but based on Dr. Elfar’s responses it sounds like he believes there is potential for a hair growth application and intends to test it.
“The cure is just around the corner.” – What they said about stems cells for hair regrowth in the early 90’s. I’m still waiting on that cure. 😀
Marvin, no one is telling you “the cure” is just around the corner. I invite you and others to read for comprehension. That is not meant to be a condescending remark, but a sincere suggestion.
This new SCUBE3 video is interesting because they do mention a potential release date for commercialisation. https://news.yahoo.com/uci-scientists-hair-raising-discovery-204418789.html
Looks like we are in the end game
Here’s to hoping we are in the end game bro. By the way, if you are the same Kevin Mann from youtube, feel free to make a video on this 4-AP stuff if you are interested. John Elfar shared the interview on his Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:6959365359246176256
Here is to increasing our bludflow
This is extremely interesting as I have neuropathy and spinal cord issues (disc degeneration, stenosis, discs that easily herniate) I believe were caused by using Finasteride at an early age. Statins are prescribed for those with high cholesterol and are known to cause spinal issues and neuropathy. Statins work by inhibiting the HMG COA reductase in your liver; it just so happens that Fin also inhibits the same enzyme.
Potassium channel blockers like 4-Aminopyridine essentially improve the body’s ability to repair nerves (and likely discs), but have historically not been prescribed for spinal cord injuries due to potential toxicity and a narrow therapeutic dose range. A researcher at Purdue developed a new version ( 4-aminopyridine-3-methanol) that works better and requires a smaller dose, hopefully negating the toxicity potential. I’d like to see this version tested for hair growth; may even see if I can find a neurologist to prescribe it for my neuropathy. See article below about the researcher who discovered this:
https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q2/possible-new-treatment-for-spinal-cord-injuries-identified-in-animal-studies.html
Thanks Juan, sounds interesting I will check that out.
Juan, I think that drug looks good and provides some advantages over 4-AP, however, the fact that 4-AP is FDA approved sets it miles ahead of 4-AP-3-methanol. One of the greatest appeals of this research is that 4-aminopyridine could be used off-label or go through FDA trials very quickly if it proved to be safe and effective for hair.
https://www.replicel.com/news/dermaprecisetm-injection-system-shown-to-produce-consistently-high-cell-count-and-viability-for-cell-therapy-injections
Kintor Pharma Announces Completion of Patient Enrollment in Phase II Clinical Trial of KX-826 for Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in the US
https://en.kintor.com.cn/news/221.html
I agree with the FDA approval being a benefit for fast tracking the drug for testing in hair trials. I’m looking at procuring the methanol version from a compounding pharmacy. Several in a neuropathy group on Reddit have done this and like it more than the non-methanol version. Either way, I hope to see more data soon on how it helps with hair loss.
Hey Yoda hope all is well. Have you posted on sub Reddit tressless before? Just curious.
Hi Woofy my boy! No, I’m not a Reddit guy, trying to avoid the fray and limit my postings to directly relevant topics my experience could be of value or direct questions to me.
Hi Admin,
Have you got any chance to make interview with Mr. Plikus, Amplifica for SCUBE3?
I don’t know why but i am convinced that SCUBE3 will be a good solution for AGA.
If you arrange a interview with them i am pretty sure you can make a good digging with your perfect experiences and knowledge.
My instincts tell me , SCUBE3 or something like that will be keyword.
iL44, by the end of the year I’ll try to have a formal update with Maksim. For now, we know that he is looking to get the drug into clinical trials and he has formed a company – Amplifica – for this purpose. Not too much else to share, but we’ll try to get something by December.
https://bioinx.com/events/esb-2022-32nd-annual-conference-european-society-biomaterials
Stemson will attend
people who already lost there hair can use this drug or just like Minoxidil it prevents hair from falling down?
Amir, we don’t know yet. I’m hoping that Dr. Elfar’s team tries 4-AP for hair in an androgenetic setting soon so we can see what the potential truly is in humans.
Summary description)Suzhou, August 9, 2022 – Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited (“Kintor Pharma”, HKEX: 9939), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative small molecules and biological therapeutics, today announced that the company has completed the enrollment and dosing of 92 subjects for its phase I clinical trial of GT20029 in China for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and acne on August 8, 2022.
https://en.kintor.com.cn/news/222.html
hello, follicle thought. Have you considered interviewing sirnagen? I think now their tonic shows much more promise since they have recently received a 5 star rating from dermatest.
Jason, they’re not ready to give any formal update, but I am in touch with them. Just hang tight and I would imagine that sometime by year’s end we will have a noteworthy update from them.
Is there any news from Mane Biotech?I can see lots of activity but no clue
Thanks
Kapil, nope. Per usual when there’s no news about a company, there’s no news. But thanks for your continued readership.
Kapil, as FT said no news. But i guess they will release end of the next year ;).
End of 2023? That will make it almost five years in the making for the device Hope it will revolutionise as they claim. Jo Thank you for your reply
Do you have information from scientists in Japan who talked about bacteria as a cosmetic treatment method?
ah, I’m not sure who you mean.
Nichinichi Pharmaceutical
Oh, when I emailed them during the article they said they are looking to commercialize it in the US and they would let me know. I also discovered that the product may be on the market in Japan already for skincare, so I started to think it may not be as impressive as they made it look in the patent. But, if it does release in US we’ll see.
Does anyone here take Claritin in addition to finasteride also anyone use an anhaler? Thanks
Hey wanted to let the people know I’ve been using pyrilutamide for 2 months and nearly all my hair is back this shit works I don’t know what these group buy people got
Surely nonsense? Where you getting it from?
Lol I guess not 😂
Lol does a anyone here player poker and end up with pocket kings sometimes??
Haha take it easy Woofy
Lol 😂 John Martin
Planning for new article on Mon or Tue.
Very interesting, if not exciting, stuff happening with the verteporfin study https://folliclethought.com/donor-healing-study-with-verteporfin-by-dr-barghouthi/
Wow! This is exciting FT!
It’s more than a year since we heard from aneira pharma. They seemed quite fast then. But no news so far
Yes and I’ve tried them many times but no response yet Gurvinder.
seems like ampflica (scube 3) collected over two million
https://www.formds.com/issuers/brant-lake-2-corp