Kangstem Biotech
Another Korean company has emerged with an exciting and potentially world-first approach to developing new hair loss therapies using hair follicle organoids.
Kangstem Biotech
Kangstem Biotech was established in 2010 and has several stem cell therapies in the pipeline for atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Recently, Kangstem Biotech announced an expansion into hair loss research and treatments. The company has inked a deal with the Seoul National University Industrial Cooperation Foundation for ‘human hair drug screening and human hair follicle production and culture technology for hair transplant materials.’ This deal will allow Kangstem Biotech to develop and commercialize a hair loss treatment based on hair follicle organoids.
World-first Technology?
This technology currently stands as the world’s first to artificially produce human hair follicle organoids in a test tube, mimicking actual human hair follicles. Organoids are three-dimensional, miniature, and simplified versions of an organ that are produced in vitro. They are derived from stem cells, which can be embryonic, induced pluripotent, or adult stem cells, and they can replicate much of the complexity of an organ. Organoids are valuable for research in developmental biology, disease modeling, and drug testing because they grow and function similarly to the organs they represent. They also offer a more accurate and ethical alternative to animal models for studying human biology and diseases.
The company will also offer a drug-screening platform that replicates the structure and function of human hair follicles, which has the potential to transform the way new hair-loss treatments are developed and tested. Kangstem Biotech also aims to develop transplant-based therapies that they hope will replace traditional hair transplant methods. This approach utilizes hair follicle organoids, which, according to the company, may reduce side effects caused by inflammatory reactions when implanted into balding areas on the scalp. Ultimately, the goal is to replace current hair transplant methods, which involve harvesting hairs from non-balding scalp regions and planting them into balding areas.
News in Perspective
Kangstem Biotech acknowledges that existing skin organoid technology was mainly focused on skin regeneration, leaving a gap in hair follicle supply and quality. However, the new technology may allow Kangstem Biotech to quickly commercialize hair follicle evaluation methods and transplant treatments. If successful, this may lay a foundation for entering domestic and global hair loss treatment markets. They are planning rapid commercialization and sales realization within the first half of 2024.
Share your thoughts on this new approach in the comments section.
Excellent post, really helped to understand what’s going on this this company. Feared this blog was dead…
This sounds very promising..so when can I get ahold of this product…I need this like yesterday…thank.you…Hasan
Early 2024, like now? Is this actually currently happening? Where, when, how much. Great stuff!
2024… I thought the same thing. Might be a misprint.
Hi Joe, it is mentioned in this article:
https://www.newsprime.co.kr/news/article/?no=622692
It is also mentioned in this press release on their website: https://kangstem.com/pr/ir_news/view?i=619
I hope this helps!
Hello,
I would love to know whether this technology uses the (hair follicle multiplication) technology (especially for those who don’t have enough hair left.
Also, how to volunteer for this groundbreaking technology trial?
Please reply.
Thanks
Within the first half of 2024……is that a typo?
As always, good job admin. Thank you for taking the time to do this👍
Have a nice weekend 👋
Great to see the blog active again, and starting with good news. Really feared we were in for another rough year after the bad news that ended 2023.
What’s your opinion ft?
Seems superexciting
I am searching on their website
Where did they mention about rapid commercialization and sales realization within the first half of 2024??
Thank you in advance!
Hi vlmp, it is quoted in this article:
https://www.newsprime.co.kr/news/article/?no=622692
It is also quoted on their website: https://kangstem.com/pr/ir_news/view?i=619
I hope this helps!
It’s worth mentioning that many companies in this space have a history of announcing market timelines that, for one reason or another, almost always get pushed back.
https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/hopemed-advances-its-androgenetic-alopecia-treatment-to-phase-ii-trials/
Hi FI, regarding the development of new therapies for hair transplantation, which would replace traditional therapies, could you give some more information? Specifically, what would they do? or improve?
didn’t really understand what the are doing. They are create hair follicle organiods and transplant them?
“We plan to launch models for normal skin, atopic dermatitis, redness and erythema, and aging for evaluating the efficacy of new drug candidates by commercializing the drug screening platform technology,” KangStem Biotech R&D Global Center Director Lee Seung-hee said. “In the longer term, we will develop a skin graft with the same shape and function of real skin differentiated from the existing artificial skin, and a hair follicle graft material that can eliminate the inconvenience of hair follicle transplantation.”
출처 : KBR(https://www.koreabiomed.com)
commercialization is reverd to the screening method. Production of hair follicle graft material is planed for the longer term. So in the best case in 5+ years