Poietis & L’Oreal: Bioprinted Hair Follicle Update
In 2016, L’Oreal announced a new research collaboration with the company Poietis who specializes in bioprinting. The purpose of the joint venture was to accomplish the ambitious task of creating a bioprinted hair follicle. In this article I have an update from Poietis on the progress of their hair follicle project. First, let’s take a refresher on what bioprinting is.
The Basics Of Bioprinting
Bioprinting can be described as the technique of using 3D printers to combine cells and other biological materials in a sequenced manner to fabricate natural biological tissue. The cellular materials used in bioprinting, known as bioinks, are placed layer-by-layer by the 3D printer to create tissue-like structures. Bioprinting is being applied today to form organs such as the kidney, heart, skin, and of course – the hair follicle.
When it comes to bioprinting, Poietis is one of the most advanced companies in the world. That fact, along with their French origin made it a no-brainer for L’Oreal to team up with them for the endeavor of manufacturing hair follicles. Poietis has created machines called NGBs (Next Generation Bioprinters) which utilize advanced features such as computer-assisted design, cell microscopy, and artificial intelligence processing. One facet of Poietis’ technology which separates it from most of the competition in the bioprinting industry is its use of lasers to emit the droplets of bioink when forming tissue structures. The video below gives a demonstration of how the process works.
As the sequence goes, a laser is pulsed off a mirror, through a lens, then through a ribbon of bioink which “zaps” a droplet of the bioink onto the tissue culture plate below. One-by-one, these droplets of bioink begin to form tissues which then form full organs. An example of an organ which is already successfully being bioprinted is human skin. According to Poietis, it takes about 10 minutes to print a piece of skin 1cm wide by 0.5mm thick.
Update On Hair Follicle Bioprinting
Bruno Brisson, CBO of Poietis
It has been about 3 years since the collaboration between L’Oreal and Poietis was set into motion. I decided it would be a good time to reach out to Poietis for an update. I received a response from Bruno Brisson, Co-Founder of Poietis, who was kind enough to share these insights into the progress of the hair follicle bioprinting project.
“…I can confirm that we have gone successfully through interesting validation steps over time on a project that is a real challenge since no one has so far managed to bio-print the most complex organ of the human body: the hair follicle !
We don’t know yet when and where but there will certainly be some scientific communication within the next months as an outcome of this collaborative research agreement. If we manage to bio-print a “functional” hair follicle then we will enrich knowledge of the hair biology. These bio-printed hair follicles could become a model of choice to identify and validate in-vitro new hair products that can enter into formulations such as shampoo, colors and likely ingredients to prevent hair loss. Another interest might be to integrate those into skin models again for in vitro tests purposes. At Poietis we could contemplate clinical applications such as alopecia and baldness treatments but there are years of developments ahead…”
Let’s consider the statements made by Mr. Brisson here regarding the bioprinted hair follicle…
For starters, the biggest news here is the confirmation that Poietis is planning to publicly announce results from the L’Oreal collaboration in the near future, which he describes as an “outcome.” We already know that if the project had failed to make progress there would be no public presentations made at all. Subsequently, after mentioning the impending announcement of Poietis’ work he goes on to discuss what the accomplishment of a printed hair follicle would mean for the industry “if” Poietis was able to do it. Interestingly, this article which was written three years ago when the partnership was first announced mentions that “the companies expect it will take at least three years to adapt the process.”
At the end of the commentary Brisson talks about potential applications for the printed follicle such as “alopecia and baldness treatments.” I asked a follow-up question about this and he confirmed that this indeed would mean applying bioprinted hair follicles to be used in hair transplantation. He also mentions that this would entail years of development, but that is the current status of every company who is aiming to create multiplied hair follicles for hair transplantation. We’ve learned in the past, some companies who appear to be ahead of the pack may ultimately not end up that way.
Having another candidate among the group of companies who are working to achieve unlimited hair follicle replication is nothing but a good thing. It will be interesting to see Poietis’ announcement later this year about their hair follicle work. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for some good news that could help accelerate the hair-growth product market as well as the hair multiplication market. What do people think about printed hair follicles compared to the other versions we know about for hair multiplication?
Posted in 3D Hair Follicle Culture, Hair Growth Treatment, L'Oreal, Poietis
Exciting news. I wonder if these follicles once perfected will be easier to create than other methods like Tsuji, Stemson, etc. What do you think?
This is a good question. I think one issue that always comes up on the back end of talk of these hair follicle cloning companies like Rapunzel, Stemson, etc is how the technology will scale.
Essentially, if they were in business and had to create 5,000 follicles for say 100 people at the same time, can they accomplish that? An industry scientist would know better than me, but from what I’ve heard its a difficult task. An automated version using 3D printers potentially sounds easier. Maybe we can get a comment from someone who is familiar with the bioprinting or cell culturing industry.
we’re already so used to being told how well their technologies work that until we see a marketing update it won’t pique our interest
I understand what you mean, but stuff like this is going to be the majority of 2019 I’d say. It’s a much better response than “Our company currently does not have an update for its research.”
The only other technologies close to a market release are Shiseido (if it succeeded) and HairClone. All the pharmaceuticals are years out. Only other chance is for an OTC product to come out which really works well.
Thanks for the new info!
Do you have high hopes for Follica by end of 2020 (both in terms of timing and efficacy)? Have they release any of the positive interim data everyone keeps referencing?
That seems like the horse to bet on in the short term..
Well, I root for Follica just like every other company but I’m kind of conservative in regards to expectations. End of 2020 is possible but is cutting it close for a market release, I guess it depends on how quickly the FDA could review the data after Follica submits (maybe around August or Sept). Also, as far as I can tell Follica’s core IP seems to be minoxidil + dermarolling type device.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190627171549.htm
HairClone before Tsuji? can you explain that? Thank you so much admin!!
Hi Soull,
HairClone has an opportunity to be available in the UK even today if it had the funding to get things started. However, the treatment can not be “marketed or advertised” but a doctor could prescribe it if he felt the patient would benefit from it. This article will explain more https://folliclethought.com/a-new-approach-to-solving-hair-loss-hairclone/
But, since HairClone is still in need of seed funding to get initial follicle banking and cell culturing services underway the treatment is not being tested yet. They launched the crowdfunding campaign to get this started back in November but did not meet the goal of the campaign.
Great article but this is many years away. Definitely the future but not in the near horizon.
Thanks for the kind words. It would be nice if there was an island that would fast track treatments that showed decent safety for patients who were consenting to the treatment and would sign a waiver.
For example, I think just about anyone reading this blog would be interested in Histogen HSC injections or Replicel RCH-01 right now if it were available.
I’d only be interested in Histogen or Repicel if they paid me.
Can somewhat understand for Replicel, but can’t relate for Histogen. Bing bang boom injections = more hair.
If you say so.
This is good news admin. Thanks for the update. But you think that even Tsuji is years away, as you mentioned in the post? Seems like they’re closer to launch than that with all their years of research and potentially just a single human trial.
These people are a few years away…trails and all that but at least the industry is picking up on new technologies that now actually exist such as IPCs and 3D printing follicles.
Definitely within the next 5 years the industry will pick up and Stemson or even L’Oreal could be out because follicle multiplication is no longer science fiction but a working cure chained by trials and funding. But you think tsuji (definitely Shiseido) will be out a lot sooner? Like in the next year or two?
Thanks for the post admin. You keep me hopeful but even objectively we’re in a very exciting time for hair regeneration.
Ps going on topical finasteride. Will post updates
With Tsuji I think they probably have the best chance to come out within 4 years because of the previous research and Japanese trial expedition like you mentioned. However, there are a few factors that play into the mix. I’d say even if their trial went perfectly I think still think it takes about 2.5 years minimum for the whole situation to play out (trial hasn’t started yet). This is mostly from the example of Shiseido. We thought it might take 18 months total to get something to market but 3 years later and there’s still no answer. Then just have to point out that Tsuji is attempting to do something theoretically more difficult than Shiseido, so I’d say realistically Tsuji is on a scale of 3.5 – 7 years out. The mice – person jump is formidable.
I understand the general consensus hope for Tsuji within 2 years, because I share the same hope, but I do notice sometimes one treatment can become a favorite and it distorts the real picture a bit.
Tsuji co-published a paper in March where it was mentioned that they hoped to begin human trials in 2020.
Yes, Tsuji/Organ Tech says they are “aiming” at clinical trials in 2020. It would be awesome if they did, but objectively it’s a lofty goal.
Ok that sounds promising.
I hadn’t heard of that, did you see something mentioned? I know they have a few promising WNT activating molecules in their stash. Truth be told those could be very interesting.
Very interesting I will ask them about that today, good find.
You are on fire with you research lately. Well done. Do you have any contact with Shiseido, Tsuboi pretty much lied to us with the whole “two months study release”, cause the mail is sent 1st of May (at the latest). Do you have any idea what is going on there, RCH-01 is done with regulators it`s release only depends on executive assesment of it`s efficacy? In your experience is this a negative sign, maybe the results are not as good?
Thanks
Replicel sold Shiseido a dud and Shiseido are embarrassed. I’m pretty sure they want to keep the results buried if they can.
So, with big companies and email blurps we never know exactly what’s going on. I’m sure there is no proof that RCH-01 has already been evaluated by regulators for safety. It’s possible, but not certain. I agree though, that most likely RCH-01 will have no problem passing safety. You never want to jump to conclusions, but things seem to be taking a slight turn for the Shiseido project. The delays in RCH-01 are definitely something to consider.
Thanks admin for your work!
Do you heard anything about ngf-574h?
Normally it will come this month if I am right?
I think Follica should be the biggest news. PureTech increased ownership of Follica from 50% to almost 75% now after seeing interim results.
Also, Follica mentions WNT activators being a massive addition to their wounding..so in theory shouldn’t’ Samumed and Follica be releasing their products together..
I think any kind of new topical to use with Follica dermarolling device would be neat, especially a WNT activator.
A Samumed/Follica combo would definitely make sense it will depend on when Samumed will be available pending their phase 3 trial.
I read somewhere in Samumed’s news releases on their website that they aim for their two leading compounds to be available by December 2020. Their AGA program is one of those compounds.
I hope Samumed is aware of how wounding + WNT activator can increase wounding results 3-4x (as per Follica), because that makes each of their treatments much more valuable.
Not to mention these two companies are both closest to market launch (assuming Shiseido is done for).
Also, if we ever get a Q and A with anyone from PureTech or Follica, it would be interesting to asking if they can create new hair follicles in the donor area as well. Because they state they are inducing follicle neogenesis in as little as three months (interim results), so in theory couldn’t that create increased donor hair (also wondering if they are creating these follicles in donor region from epithelial cells that are immune to DHT like the rest of the donor area).
I think it would be VERY useful to have a clear answer from Dr Tsuji or his team on the timeframe they are aiming for. Obviously we know that such timeframes can take much longer. However, Dr Tsuji has a well-respected reputation from what I understand.
I perfectly understand that research can take some time. What I do not understand is lack of clarity for questions that can be answered easily and may determine a person’s strategy. Just imagine how many people not having FUEs right now because they are thinking that Replicel may be coming out soon and Tsuji by the end of 2020.
Hence, we need to know ASAP if Riken intends to launch commercialization by 2020 (with all the delays that we can reasonably expect) or whether it is only human trials for 2020 and as admin says will take another 5 years to be on the market.
thx
Hear ya Ryuk. Are you considering getting an FUE at this time?
Dr. Tsuji is certainly a well respected doctor in stem cell research. At this point I’d have to say that commercialization in 2020 is virtually off the table just because even if trials started tomorrow I’m not sure if there is enough time to get a regulatory approval by December 2020. I think the bigger question right now is if clinical trials will begin in 2020.
Thanks so much for this update. I have been wondering for a while how this collaboration was progressing. Needless to say, L’Oreal is a world class leader in the cosmetics business, so anything with its name on it would give confidence. As someone who has been losing his hair for 34 years (I am 58) and recently gave up on Finasteride and Trinov, I have come to the view that my only salvation lies with cloning or printing: something which produces masses of new follicles. My MPB has spread to quite an extent into the horseshoe area, leaving that hair very thin and almost transparent. For this reason, although I would certainly not dismiss cloning, I am most excited by hair printing, bio-engineering of follicles, or the sort of work that Stemson is undertaking. Despite my disappointment with Finasteride and Trinov, I have real hope at last that a real cure may not be too far away. Thanks again for your invaluable work, and for keeping us sane and hopeful.
Thanks for chiming in Alan, sorry to hear about fin and trinov for you.
It is starting to look like the hair follicle multiplication process may be emerging as the real only frontier in hair restoration. Though for sure, there is still opportunities for topicals and injectables to work, we just need some new ones and for existing ones to make it through clinical trials. I’m hoping for a wnt topical to come out soon that has some real potential. I also wonder why another product like HSC doesn’t come to market. That would be awesome. There are multiple companies over the years who have tried dp cell culturing (Aderans, Shiseido, etc) so why not make another version of HSC?
@ADMIN will they do their clinical trials in Japan? It would last so long if they do it in Europe i think
Hi Follicle Thought,
Do you have any update on L’Oreal? It has been a few years already.
Jade, I am not sure whether the research project is still ongoing. We should know within a few months.