Category: Hair Cloning

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Hair Loss InformationWhat Could Cause Histogen to Fail? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

i’m sure you heard and saw Histogen’s Pilot Study and the general comment i saw in all the forums were that is really promising. i hope you can answer my question..

what do you see that MAY be a downfall in Histogen HSC plan? and do you think its results are more promising than hair cloning? i know that we have been hearing the quote “3 to 5 years time” BUT i dont think science had ever had such results than now so things are moving i guess..

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HistogenI suppose the downfall could be the same for any new company in this space — financial backing. If the trials don’t go as well as expected, it may be harder to secure additional funds to keep making progress. I’m just speaking in generalities though.

I do not follow Histogen’s business or science plans close enough to scrutinize its progress, so I do not really have an opinion on its technology. The last I read about the HSC pilot program, it looked promising but only had a couple dozen participants… and it wasn’t known if the results would last for any significant amount of time.

It may be the hope to most (if not all) readers out there for a cure to balding, and I could only share the same hopes as any other.

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Hair Loss InformationWould Getting a Hair Transplant Give Me Cloning Priority at NHI? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman I have an odd question for you. I plan to have a hair transplant with you in the near future. Playing devils advocate here, let’s say that hair cloning is a viable option in five years and the demand would be great.

Would having a prior surgery with you give me an advantage of getting this procedure done sooner? (i.e. cutting in line)

Thank you for your time.

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First and foremost, having posted over 8000 questions on this site and answering some real doozies, I don’t think yours is all that odd.

Hair cloning just means there will be more hairs available for transplantation and you will not be limited to the donor hair. With respect to priority, our surgeries are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis… but when it comes to procedures done with hair cloning, it’s all hypothetical at this point. I’d like to hope that in 5 years from now we’ll be transplanting with cloned hair, but that remains to be seen.

We look forward to seeing you!

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Doctor Says Hair Cloning Will Be Available in 2 Years! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

One of the doctors in this article says that hair cloning will be on the market in 2-3 years. Thoughts?

Link: Huge Breakthroughs In The War On Baldness

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I always find the prediction of when hair cloning will be available to be interesting. For the past 19 years since I entered this field, the predictions on cloning have always been 2-3 years out. I am hopeful as all of you, but any breakthrough will take years to work its way through the FDA.

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Hair Loss InformationAderans Expands Clinical Studies – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I´ve found updates from Histogen and Aderans. What can you say about this? Thank you.

Histogen: Hypoxia Induces Stem Cell Gene Expression, Protein Production and Cell Surface Markers

Aderans: Aderans Research Expands Clinical Studies

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Thanks for sending these links. Each press release speaks for itself. The Histogen press release isn’t specifically about their hair loss treatment (they have multiple products unrelated to hair loss treatment), but the Aderans Phase 2 clinical trials expansion is for hair regeneration. Once the studies have concluded, they will hopefully be published with the FDA and then we will know better about what is offered.

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Hair Loss InformationBlindly Following Hair Loss Treatment Companies – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I honestly think you have been somewhat indifferent towards Histogen’s potential. As researchers have recently discovered, the baldness gene affects WTN7 pathway. Histogen stimulates this pathway to produce new folicles and thicken exisiting ones. Obviously, there is a connection. The only affirmative emails you respond to involve propecia. I have been taking propecia for 2 years and I have not had any improvements with my hair. In fact, I have significantly lost more hair. Now you’ll probably say, it’s keeping what you have, but that’s BS. It isn’t effective because it isn’t addressing the real issue of hair miniturization which has been recently connected to WNT7 pathways (Dr. Christiano, Columbia)

Now I can understand why you would want to downplay this company because if it does go to market within 3-5 yrs in Asia, hair transplant surgeons will not benefit financially as much as they have in the past. In fact, nurse practitioners would be able to treat patients. At this point, I will no longer be a reader of your blog because I find your replies to be completely boring and repetative. Maybe you should invest some of the kickbacks you’ve received from Merck into a Histogen if you really wanted to see a viable hair growth treatment come to market

Good Bye and Good Luck

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For those who freely read on, my position on hair loss has remained constant. There is no cure for hair loss and Propecia is certainly not a cure (though it helps treat hair loss in most men). I recently wrote about the discovery of the hair loss gene pathway you are referring to, but if you read on, it is not about male pattern baldness. As quoted by Dr. Christiano herself, “It is important to note that while these two conditions share the same physiologic process, the gene we discovered for hereditary hypotrichosis does not explain the complex process of male pattern baldness.”

In the end, I am happy that there is research being carried out to find a cure. I care about patients and if I was actively trying to steer people to my surgical practice why would I bother telling them to take a pill? Why would I spend time answering questions on this site every day that have nothing to do with directing patients to surgery? Your logic is full of flaws and you come across as an angry, desperate person. You are misdirecting your anger at me, possibly because of your impatience at these cloning companies and their moving timelines. Should I be sad that I do not receive any kickbacks by Merck or Histogen or Dr Christiano or any other companies or individuals? I’ve already stated my connections (or lack thereof) to Merck. They make a medication that works to treat hair loss. It is proven safe and effective. The rest is all conjecture.

Lastly, I am sorry that you find my comments to be repetitive, but at least they are consistent! So thanks for your insightful comments and we will miss you here!

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Hair Loss InformationYears Later, Is Hair Cloning Any Closer? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr,

I remember first coming to your site back in 2006 when I first started noticing that I was thinning. I was obviously upset by this, but was excited about the possibility of hair cloning being 5-10 years away. The idea that you could get all your hair back was very appealing. Now 4 years have passed and I feel frustrated that very little has advanced in this field. I have seen the likes of Aderans, Intercytex, Histogen and Follica all make statements that they are on track to solve the problem, but no one seems any closer.

Do you think we are ever going to see this come to fruition or is it too difficult to crack? Also, what other potential ‘cures’ are being developed? Surely if someone achieves this they will become a billionaire. There is obviously lots of incentive. If you believe we see a ‘cure’ when do you think this will be. By cure I mean someone with extensive baldness being able to get all their hair back.

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As I’ve said many times before (which is usually met with much criticism by some readers that think they know better), I wouldn’t hold my breath. We all want to wait for the next breakthrough, the next best thing, the next version, etc.

The idea of being able to clone hair for infinite supply is tantalizing, but I have not seen anything remotely close on the horizon. Based on press releases, some of these companies seem to be making small steps here and there, but we’re a long way off before seeing successful hair cloning available to the public. I do hope it would be in my lifetime, because my business will sky rocket! I mean, who better to do these cloning procedures than experienced hair physicians?

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Hair Loss InformationAderans Purchases Intercytex Assets – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I thought this might be of interest to your other readers. It looks like Intercytex’s old technology has found a new home.

ARI Purchases Intercytex Assets (PDF file)

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IntercytexWhen word came out earlier this year that Intercytex was closing shop, I received a few emails inquiring about where their assets might wind up. Months later, the announcement has been made. And the winner is…

    Atlanta, GA – March 25, 2010 — Aderans Research Institute Inc. (ARI) announced it acquired key technology assets from Regenerative Medicine Assets Limited (formerly Intercytex Group plc), a leading UK hair regeneration company. By acquiring the scientific assets of one of its chief competitors, ARI has further solidified its position as the leading research company in the hair regeneration industry.

    “This acquisition is a major step forward for ARI,” said Vern Liebmann, Vice President, Operations. “Through this deal, we’ve been able to consolidate the majority of key patents and know-how in the hair regeneration field, an achievement that can accelerate our ability to deliver a commercially viable product to market. This acquisition was only possible thanks to the considerable financial support of Aderans Holdings Company, Ltd., of Japan.”

    The purchase includes assets related to the ICX-TRC product that had been a research focus for Regenerative Medicine Assets Limited. ICX-TRC is an autologous hair regeneration therapy for the treatment of male pattern baldness and female diffuse alopecia.

    The deal comes as ARI is extending its Phase 2 clinical study of cell-based hair regeneration, in which it recently treated the trial’s 100th subject. “We’ve acquired important proprietary knowledge that includes Intercytex’s clinical efforts to date,” noted Ken Washenik, MD PhD, Executive Vice President. “This information should substantially augment our efforts to create a viable cell-based solution for hair loss.”

    “Cellular regeneration represents the leading edge of research into hair loss,” said Kurt Stenn, MD, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. “Combining the knowledge stores of two of the leading companies in this field is a significant step forward in our efforts to pioneer a regenerative process that can deliver enhanced hair growth to millions of people around the world.”

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Hair Loss InformationHistogen Hit with Patent Lawsuit in 2009 – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doctors,

Any word on Histogen? I haven’t seen any news from them in a long time now. There hasn’t been any news posted to their website since last August. I know you said you don’t have inisder info but i didn’t know if maybe your doctor mailing list or industry letters talk about it.

Thanks

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HistogenI did hear one thing about Histogen, and that related to a patent violation. I found this article via Google from a couple months ago that has some interesting news…

Histogen was hit with a patent lawsuit last year by SkinMedica, though the article doesn’t say which patents are in possible violation. Following that, their investors pulled out and they laid off all their employees. They still say 85% of their 2 dozen test patients saw results, though I have no idea what is considered a positive result in their book or if their testing will be expanded beyond that small number of people. One thing is certain — if the patent litigation doesn’t come out in their favor, they’ll need to strike an agreement with SkinMedica or go the way of the dodo. The CEO sounds very positive, but I suppose when you’re looking for new investors you should always have a positive outlook in interviews.

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Hair Loss InformationI’m Holding Out for Future Technology Instead of Getting a Hair Transplant Today! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, thank you so much for all your help and knowledge. We greatly appreciate it!

Can you please tell me your thoughts as to when if ever we will see a more progressive approach to fixing hair loss? Such as through stem cells or tissue engineering. i am holding out getting a Hair Transplant in hopes one day this will come. Do you think holding out will be worth any wait?

Thank you for your help!

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Imagine that your father and grandfather had prostate cancer and that you run a very high risk of developing the same disease. Rather than get tested to get a diagnosis for you in advance of getting this terrible disease, you decide to just wait until a cure is available. Then you die because the cure never came in time to save you. I realize this logic may be a stretch to bring up the point I am trying to make, but stick with me…

Waiting just means paying the piper of the process as time, whether it is cancer or hair loss, just works against you. Hair cloning or a hair loss cure are still not even close to being available to the public. In fact, I believe it will take decades before some more solid solution to hair loss comes along. People still think that hair transplants can be socially detected on any person who had it done, will always cause terrible scarring, are extremely painful, etc. Well, it may be the perfect solution today. I would challenge you to pick out a hair transplant amongst my patient population (assuming I started the transplant process on the patient being examined myself).

Drugs like Propecia are great at stopping or slowing hair loss with minimal side effects for 99% of men. Why hold out? You could be enjoying your hair now instead of waiting on something that isn’t guaranteed to come in your lifetime. The decision ultimately is up to you.

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Hair Loss InformationCan Propecia Be Replaced in the Future with Another Drug? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I take propecia, which has halted my hair loss and re-grew some hair at the crown and top. If a better drug or a cell-based/cloning procedure comes along, would that mean I could get off propecia to start the new therapy, or will I always have to take it to keep what I got back?

Thank you

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If another DHT blocker comes along with less side effects, you will be able to switch as long as it does block DHT. Dutasteride will retain benefits seen from finasteride (Propecia), but safety is still a concern of mine with dutasteride. Propecia is non-surgical (daily pill), and when hair cloning comes to be practical sometime in the future, it will almost be a surgical process of some sort. They’re entirely different processes, and if you stop the blocking of DHT from the drug, you’ll lose those benefits you saw.