CAR T-Cell Therapy For Hair Growth
Almost two months ago, a reader of Follicle Thought sent me an interesting article about new research being done in hair growth. The article I received was from a Turkish news website regarding an innovative gene therapy. I’ve done a bit of research on the topic since then and now will share my findings.
Novartis Studying CAR T-Cell in Baldness, Article Says
According to the Hurriyet news site, the major pharmaceutical company Novartis has begun studying CAR T-cell or “CAR-T” therapy for treating baldness. The article was published back in January 2018 following an Annual Report meeting at Novartis headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Here’s a meaningful quote from a translated version of the Hurriyet article:
“Lloyd Klickstein, director of the Novartis NIBR New Disease Treatment Development Unit, said: “Novartis has begun applying gene therapy with CAR-T therapy. Gene therapy research continues not only in the area of cancer in Novartis but also in areas of ophthalmology and baldness therapy.”
Hurriyet Article Screenshot
After reading the article I was intrigued, but I still needed to determine the credibility of the news website. If this was an American news organization the credibility would have been instantly recognizable; since it was Turkish I needed to do further research. However, I have since found out that, yes, Hurriyet is a legitimate established news company. It’s also one of the largest newspapers in circulation in Turkey.
What is CAR T-Cell Therapy?
So, what exactly is CAR T-cell therapy? It’s one of the latest and most exciting breakthroughs in the biotech industry, currently being touted as a potential cure for cancer. One CAR-T therapy has already received FDA approval for treating leukemia. Here is a basic definition of the therapy: CAR T-cell therapy consists of a patient’s own immune system cells, called T cells. The T cells are first extracted from a patient, then modified and engineered in a laboratory to better recognize and kill the patient’s cancer, and then expanded to large numbers and infused back into the patient. CAR stands for chimeric antigen receptor, which is the engineered part of the T cell.
This video illustrates the dynamics of a CAR T-Cell therapy very well:
Because the of the solitary source for this information I believe it’s best to approach the topic slowly with cautious optimism. However, it is an interesting development coming from an established news source. I know everyone is wondering if this work is being done in androgenic alopecia or alopecia areata. My first answer is why not both? Although it’s not scientific criteria for making an assumption, I’d have to observe the photo that Hurriyet used in their article and find that it alludes more towards androgenic alopecia. If the reports are accurate, it goes to show that hair growth is indeed a well researched and desired commodity within the scientific community.
Admin ? When will end baldness? You say me
Probably around 2021 or so.
2018 will be a “improving the situation” year.
That which one? Replicel Follica vs. 2021? But I was told to end in 2018? Baldness solution is being made so I lost hope to procrastination
Perhaps different modalities combined will “end” baldness.
The improvements coming are something to be thankful for. Patience is required, gratitude helps our perspective.
Johnny, there are many candidates to provide a real solution which you have alluded to, it’s not easy to decipher at this point exactly which one(s) it will be.
2021 ; (
I hope the “improvement” will be efficient.
Any improvement is worthwhile, some people say
My present understanding of hair loss is not so much of fighting an illness or a disease but rather a genetic predisposition. It is a loss of active follicles. CAR T-Cells certainly can help to eliminate undesirable cells in the body for which our immune system is not strong enough. So, I ask myself what would be the undesirable cells that stop follicles from growing hair? CAR T-Cell therapy would indicate that hair loss is a treatable disease. It will certainly be interesting to follow this approach since it might throw more light on the difficult subject of hair loss regardless of whether it works or not.
Jhonny please see above response.