RiverTown Therapeutics Melanocyte Research
RiverTown Therapeutics has engaged in an academic research collaboration to validate an effect of RT1640 that has already been observed in humans – gray hair reversal.
A collaboration has begun between RiverTown Therapeutics and The University of Alabama at Birmingham with well-known hair pigment researcher Dr. Melissa Harris. You may remember Dr. Melissa Harris as the lead author of the gray hair/immune system-connection research which made national headlines in early 2018. Some of Dr. Harris’ research specialties include somatic stem cells and aging, melanocyte stem cells, and mouse models of hair graying.
The model studied by Dr. Harris and RiverTown used mice whose hair was depigmented (altered to be white or “gray”) and then treated with various compounds including RiverTown Therapeutic’s RT1640 which is composed of RT175, cyclosporine A (CSA), and minoxidil. The two best responding treatment arms are depicted below which show a superior pigment regeneration effect in the mice treated with RT1640. It is important to note that the mice on the left have just as much hair as the mice on the right, albeit the mice hair on the left lacks pigment.
David Weinstein MD, PhD of RiverTown Therapeutics describes the research in detail here:
“In brief, C57 black mice were gamma irradiated- a treatment known to kill melanocyte stem cells and induce graying. To be certain that effects of the radiation treatment were permanent, the hair was shaved, and over the 4 weeks it takes to fully regenerate, the hair grew in gray, as expected. The hair was again shaved, and treatment begun. The treatment arms were 1) vehicle; 2) RT175 alone; 3) cyclosporine A (CSA) alone ; or 4) RT1640.
Results:
- Neither the vehicle alone nor RT175 had any effects on reducing graying
- CSA had a moderate effect- inducing mild to moderate pigmentation
- RT1640 induced a significant amount of pigmented hair
- RT1640 induced melanocytic progenitor cells in 60% to 80% of the hair bulbs, compared to virtually none in the vehicle or the RT175 treated mice.
- The effects are long-lasting to permanent. When treatment was discontinued, and the hair shaved again, most of the new hair that grew back maintained its pigment.
These data are consistent with the phenotype that we have seen in humans, and they support our hypothesis that RT1640 treatment induces a true regenerative state in the hair.”
This research adds validation to the data RiverTown Therapeutics has previously shared on Follicle Thought displaying hair regeneration and gray hair reversal in humans. The full study is expected to be published by Dr. Harris and the University of Alabama in the future with more details on RT1640’s effect on melanocyte stem cells.
when is available for the commercial
when can we expect this treatment to be commercially available to treat grey hair and hair loss?
Hi,
So we can expect a product very soon for gray hair reversal :), right?
That depends on when RiverTown can secure financing or an industry partner. Anything we can all do to help is appreciated.
At least, I’ve been appreciating their efforts along with discussion with scientists, dermatologists and common people. 🙂
Last time I had contact with them, they said they were hopefull for a 2020-2021 release date. That was about a year ago….
Like everyone else here, I would love to get my hands on this (not bothered about graying but just want hair!). I note that on the Follicle Thought Ultimate Guide table it is estimated for commercial launch in 2021. Not sure why it takes so long (?) I also wonder if anyone knows whether once it is launched with FDA approval in the US (hopefully), how long it takes to get similar approval in, say, Europe? Given that the EU is the World’s largest market (and very rich with lots of hair loss) you would have thought they would want to seek approval in the EU at the same time. No doubt there are cost implications to this: but the rewards are potentially huge, and with so many products due to come to market there is surely an incentive to get into as many markets as possible ASAP.
PS – I wrote the word it – twice as a reminder that we all make mistakes and should laugh when we do
Hi admin, is this the same Rivertown drug that grows hair? Is their mpb drug expected to be released 2020 2021?
Yes, this is the same drug. The timeline for release is still up in the air I believe.
Follica
http://www.puretechhealth.com/puretech-pipeline/our-pipeline/details/regenerative-biology-platform-for-androgenetic-alopecia
This is such great news! I hope they can get this going and pushed out to the public very soon! My hair can’t wait any longer, going more grey by the year…
Hopefully it will be picked up by a major company soon!
Please keep us updated. Again, I will be the first ones in line for this.
End of the season is here and apparently seasonal shed is as well.
I dont see hairs anywhere…. Just not on my head anywhere.
Super thin.
If there isnt a cure by 2020… I’m a lost cause
Dear all
Thanks for these information, I hope it will be released as soon as possible.
I was tried a new spray for grey hair treatment called ( PHYTO RE 30 ), but nothing change after 4 months of daily using.
So I hope that this new researches will leads to a real cure.
Thanks
can you give the source for this research? I tried to search it on google I didn’t found anything about RT1640 and gray hair and even RiverTown website only mention its potential for treating hair loss but nothing about gray hair.
a question i forgot to ask, when do they think it’ll be on the market.?
wondering about the timing of a consumer product release.
Any updates for this? Interested to see how they are getting on, with the virus I’m guessing it’s pushed back. Hope they get funded and can go straight through trials and seek FDA approval.
Andy, I actually just emailed them and hoping for a response this week. If I get any news there will likely be a new article within a week or so. Cheers
Their website seems to have been shutdown… I guess it went belly up?
I’m wondering, can this therapeutic be revisited for grey hair?
It clearly show repigmentation in Dr. Weinstein’s case. And it worked in Dr. Harris’ mouse trials.
If it was just a matter of lack of funding for Rivertown, I wonder if another company can carry it forward?
I don’t think so DDave. I think it’d be best to look towards newer and better therapies.
Thanks, FT. Fingers crossed that those are on the horizon
Yessir, I’m getting a lot of feedback from people looking for gray hair cures. Just for good measure, like I tell everyone, if you happen to have or know people with financial resources, that can help speed things along. But, besides that I will share that I am seeing progress on the product development side being made, not extraordinary, but better than nothing. I plan to write an article soon.
Thanks FT, I will keep that in my mind.
I hope those in the dermatology and pharmaceutical field will start to recognize profound psychological effect premature greying can have on people.
One more thing FT… might it be possible to interview any of the relevant participants involved on this product development side?
Could be a good way to get some attention and help the players involved understand the concern this is for people.
Just a thought.
I’m not sure if there will be interviews, but hopefully some exclusive info from one or two of the players making an attempt.