biomedical, aesthetic medicine, VCs
Gone Today, Hair Tomorrow—Follica Raises Funds to Begin Human Trial of Baldness Treatment
Robert Buderi 1/4/08
(Page 2 of 2)
had something to do with the follicle,” she says. “The follicle’s almost like the epicenter of human hair and skin.” If you can control the follicles and the sebaceous glands that are connected to each of them, you can theoretically create new hair, stop hair from growing, or even treat acne, Zohar says. “Whatever you do to the follicle is going to be beneficial to somebody,” she adds.
Armed with that realization, PureTech put together an even smaller group of follicle experts—Price, Anderson, and Cotsarelis formed the core of this contingent—to study possible research or technological approaches to follicular problems in more detail.
Then, one day, Cotsarelis told Zohar he was working on something in his lab that could be just what the doctor ordered. The Penn scientist was persuaded to bring that work to Follica, which eventually licensed Cotsarelis’s core research.
Cotsarelis, an expert in epithelial stem cells such as those found in the skin, was studying how skin heals and noticed that new hair follicles seemed to be forming in the middle of some of some wounds. He learned that when the skin’s top layers were removed, some cells within the wound revert to a more primitive state (what he calls an “embryonic window”) from which they can develop into either hair or skin. With more research, says Zohar, Cotsarelis found that he “could actually push them to one direction or another.” In a widely read Nature paper published last May, Cotsarelis showed for the first time that it’s possible to create new hair follicles in adult mammals—and to shut down hair growth. He could even grow thicker, darker hair.
Zohar says Follica has further developed this work and filed additional patents to protect the technology. What’s so beautiful about the approach, she says, is that translating it into a treatment for humans involves only devices and drugs that are already on the market. A doctor would first use a microdermabrasion tool, say, or a laser to remove the top layers of the skin—as is already commonly done in a number of dermatologic and cosmetic procedures—knocking some cells back into a primitive state. The doctor can then use this newly created therapeutic window to inject drugs that push the cells to develop along one pathway or another and grow hair or skin. Zohar won’t reveal what drugs Follica is using, except to say that they are small molecule drugs normally taken orally for purposes with no relation to hair growth.
Because the components of the system are already approved, the regulatory path is pretty straightforward, and Follica can perform human studies without jumping through a lot of governmental hoops. That’s exactly what the company plans to do with the money it has just raised. A proof of concept study involving 15 to 20 patients (Follica has no shortage of volunteers, as several hundred people sent in e-mails when word of Cotsarelis’s work reached the public) should begin in the next few months. The trial has several phases, however, and Zohar cautions that final data won’t be in for at least a year. So don’t pull your hair out waiting for results.
Comments (1)
Share
1/4/08 10:05 am
Seems, um, hair-brained. Even if they can get enough new hair to grow, won’t it just thin out again because of the same things that cause male pattern baldness in the first place?
1/4/08 11:26 am
Good Point Erik; the name of the company Follica leads me to believe that this company is focusing on Follical treatment therapy like Rogain or Tricimon. But for a chemical to be effective it not only need to help stimule follicals but it needs to help reduce DHT. Not sure that they can come up with a product mmore effective than 5% Monoxidil. But I hope they do.
1/4/08 2:12 pm
I am with the company. While we have not tested this in humans yet we fully expect that hair will persist. There are multiple reasons for this. First of all, consider hair transplants - while they have other flaws, the hair does indeed persist despite the presence of circulating DHT. In a distinct, but similar way, the Follica treatment changes the microenvironment of the follicles. Further, a single hair cycle lasts several years, and at the very least the new hair should last one full cycle (because of the underlying physiology of the condition). Also, circulating levels of DHT actually drop over a man’s life. We have seen numerous clinical reports of patients showing sustained hair cycling when exposed to conditions similar to the treatment Follica is pursuing (in a carefully directed and controlled way).
1/4/08 3:04 pm
Daivd-
Is this treatment going used it conjuction with Rogaine, I’m assuming it is a topical?
1/4/08 9:06 pm
David…..would it be possible to use this treatment in conjunction with a regular hair transplant(HT) ???…….as Im sure you know….HT’s take genitically DHT resistant follicles from the sides and back of the head and put it on top…..would it be possible to perform a regular HT and then use the Follica product on the sides or back to regrow the DHT resistant hair follicles back on the sides or back……basically replacing your donor region……although this would be labor intensive, it should lead to permanent hair replacement (if it would work)……and if I remember correctly, Follica will require some “wounding” to make the product work…..would the “wounding” during a regular HT (maybe an FUE (Follicular unit extraction HT) where small follicular units are removed rather than a large open strip surgery) be capable of being used along with your product to cause regrowth?
1/5/08 1:31 am
Even if regrowth by this procedure also succumbs to the effects of DHT, one might hope that it would take as many decades for that to happen as it took for a subject’s original hair to have stopped growing.
So, for example, someone who went bald by the age of 25, might with this treatment be able to get his hair back for another 25 years, when he is 50, so that at least he would have had hair during the time of life when it’s needed the most.
By then there may even be more permanent solutions if he wanted to continue having hair for even longer.
1/5/08 6:57 am
It’s a brilliant, and utterly inspired concept to use already approved components towards the treatment of MPB. It could certainly expedite FDA approval and market penetration via standard cosmetic –not strictly plastic surgery– outlets (a must for the droves of eager men - like myself - seeking a quick, legitimate solution).
DHT resistance, and regrowth volume are obvious concerns; however, even a DHT susceptible procedure would offer a much needed reprieve to balding men until DHT resistant options become readily available (from Aderans or Intercytex no doubt). The third concern surrounds the actual abrasion process; it seems like the recipients head must be shaved for the procedure, and that strikes me a tough sell for female clients /norwood 3 or less males. Any additional incite on the these concerns, however minor, would be greatly welcome.
Aside from that, please pass-along my thanks to the rest of the Follica staff David. For the first time in a while I feel more excited than discouraged.
1/5/08 2:59 pm
Is this news linked with that?
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?LANGUAGE=ENG&KEY=07/149312&ELEMENT_SET=F
Author is Cotsarelis!!!!
1/6/08 2:09 pm
As for those concerned how this treatment can be used on those with diffuse thinning . . .
At the very least, maybe they could treat one small area at a time, so that existing hairs in neighboring scalp areas can be used to conceal the area being treated.
Or, if you’re like me, just go ahead and shave my whole head if you like, so long as I’ll have a decent head of hair again, who cares.
1/10/08 4:01 pm
I really hope some new and effective treatment will come!
WE CAN’T WAIT MORE!
1/12/08 6:30 pm
Sounds encouraging…It would great to obtain more news updates as the technology matures. Thanks, God speed, and keep us posted!
1/25/08 12:10 am
Its sound realy good to me, when we are going to the products????????
1/30/08 6:43 am
See this link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22896514#22896514
2/1/08 11:35 am
The test clinical are beginning…
See the following link to access at the list:
http://www.follicabio.com/
2/2/08 3:53 pm
At the very least, progress is being made by first understanding new and viable mechanism(s) never considered or understood which deliver a deeper understanding to potential avenues and ultimately a cure. Remember, this window of knowledge will make other researchers step up the efforts and build upon the existing knowledge of this process.
This procedure will work around hair transplants (fill in gaps and re-implant the donor area for a natural look and normal coverage), scars and other injuries due to the ability to start the growing / primitive nature of the follicle.
I would say that two-three years hair loss will be an option. Cost will reflect a less payout compared to HT’s due to the ease and availability of the procedure. The simpler the approach, the greater the competition and cost will come down quickly. On another note, Elaine Fuchs found a way to awaken sleeping follicles by inhibiting inflammation on the scalp. The end is near I believe to this horrific disease that is only understood by the sufferers. God speed for cure!!!
Look at the string to see no matter the extent, age or gender, Hair loss is a terrible disease that needs a true miracle and cure. Cotsalrelis should win the highest award for this breakthrough. Remember that many children and adults that have brain surgery need to fill in the head scars due to cancer and this procedure will do the trick. I believe it Will!!
2/2/08 4:12 pm
Follica Representatives, please folow the string and read the stories of the hopeful at every age and gender anticipating the cure and or remarkable treatment that demands an end to baldness. Also, if Follica needs donations to cure this disease, I and many others would chip in to move the research and ultimate end along!!!
http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/29/617362.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage
2/2/08 9:38 pm
I’m sure if I was a time-traveller I could go forward 300 years and articles will still be saying that the baldness cure is “only 3-5 years away”.
Curing baldness must really be a conundrum, given we can perform miracles elsewhere and flew to the moon almost 40 years ago. There’s many complications, even extending to replicating the grain or direction of hair, that naturally grows in a swirl around the crown, but if this research (in this article) is something truly new, then good luck and best wishes! I’ll be in line sometime, in my time traveller spacesuit.
2/3/08 12:22 pm
I agree that past outcomes were futile. However, science is taking on a new leaf and today artifical skin made from one’s own hair follicle is being used starting this Jan 2008 to help replace ulcerated and damaged skin.
Remember that we dont need a full head of hair to frame the face. Any addition is welcomed. But I understand your remark and agree that we have been led blindly only to see nothing but false promises.
Today’s information is flowing fast and people are starting to bring false claims to light never before seen without the introduction of the Internet. So, to make money and increase consumer purchases flowing, a real cure or damn good treatment is needed beyond the normal half-witted attempts made in the past. I just tell everyone to stop buying hair products and for corporations to make money scientist will need to invent the cure or no one will buy the product. But many deaf ears have arisen.
Let’s hope that Cotsarelis is on to something and Follica truly can heal and cure this disease. I believe modern science is allowing for further understandig of the body and genetic makeup that fules the organs and cells that will allow for a further development not ever seen before.
Follica Reps want to answer and comment further. We are all ears and billions would be made if you guys become successful!!!
By the way, the only stress in my life is the hair loss. How vain and stupid but I am mortal and everything else in my life is great. Just need this little coverage to complete the wonderful journey on this earth. Smile!!! Nice comment Mark and very true to say the least!
2/9/08 7:48 am
I think they have a good chance of success. This I base on some other observations that I’ve read and heard from different people.
http://www.hairlosshelp.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=60025&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=
In that link you can read about a guy needling his scalp and getting regrowth on places once totaly bare. And some other persons have tried it and they also observed new hair growth.
Also, I have heard of a case where a guy put motor oil (by some strange reason) on his head, which infected and wounded his whole scalp. Before that he had had very thin hair in the front and at the top. He had to go to the doctor to remove all the scars and wounds he had on the head. After removal of the scars, they observed massive hair regrowth with dark and thick hairs. After that he had great hair.
So with regard to these observation, and now adding some extra components, I think they have a good chance! Let us hope!
2/9/08 4:44 pm
D,
This is encouraging in that the concept of wound healing allowed different people from varying situations and technique to promote follicular growth never understood until today. Many observations from scientist and lay-people promoted much noise into past alopecia cures / treatments and others still wounded from false promises that never surfaced beyond the petri dish await wide-eyed believing this may be the end. As science matures and the biological and chemical composition of the human body is understood, we can witness the true leaders who work to solve valid problems through compassion rather than greed to answer and cure diseases.
Many pharmaceutical businesses would like the word “treatment” to underscore the backbone of medicine forever. However, such path of incessant insatiability is failing the more knowledgeable public as information and word-of-mouth exploits the inferior products, doctors and researchers that are marketed to the public. Many scientist / doctors are exposed as noise makers diluting their credibility under false promises and or lack of true research. Today doctors / researchers are restoring organs and partial limbs through regenerative medicine (see CBS Evening News under Health). Shouldn’t the follicle be somewhat easier?
Elaine Fuchs and the other scientist that report but never apply are the backbone to the understanding of the human body, but more application from these great minds are warranted to the clinical / application side of science in order to push the envelope towards a cure.
R
3/14/08 2:10 pm
I really think this may have some merit because I recently slid into second base and ripped the top layers of my skin around my shin area. All athe skin and hair was ripped off. Six months later the skin is now healed but what is interesting is that I have twice as much hair in that area compared to the other side. Weird but it shows that their is some truth to this whole thing! Hopefully!
3/21/08 3:21 am
Any updates on human trials yet?
3/21/08 7:29 pm
I believe this summer 2008? However, due to my conversations with Follica Reps and the multitude of people experiencing regrowth of hair after skin injuries like some of the responses posted above, I believe this will work. Actually, Dr. Mercola stated he will under go an Adult stem cell treatment this year and Dr. Phil is starting this week. Don’t know if it is true, but after contacting his reps, they were quiet and beat around the bush on a definite answer. See this string on his comment and you decide. Could be humor?
Mercola Quote:
Dr. Mercola’s Comments:
My first thought when reading this article was, “Is there even ONE good reason for clogging up the information highway with this kind of nonsense?”
Well. Since no one was around to answer me, I decided to do some digging, and will share my findings with all you loyal readers who deserve to know the answer to this pressing question, and perhaps — at least partially — restore your faith in the mental faculties of our educated scholars.
Turns out this research may not be the result of an LSD experiment gone wrong after all.
(On a side note, if you don’t have much hair, like me, then this is not a big deal. But I will start some investigational ADULT stem cell topical therapy soon, and there is a 90 percent chance I will have a full head of hair in one year — so at that time I’ll be paying more attention to my hair care. Dr. Phil starts it this week.)
Personal Care Products and Indoor Air Pollution
After unearthing some information about the author of this study, Associate Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Glenn C. Morrison, I found that this is merely a small part of a much larger investigation into the physics and chemistry of indoor air pollution — something that does concern us all, more so than deciding whether or not washing our hair will affect our lifespan to any measurable degree.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, on average. So, considering the fact that you spend about 90 percent of your life indoors, the study of indoor pollution is a worthy one.
Their main aim is to determine what kinds of chemical pollutants are created indoors, and how they accumulate in indoor environments. Related projects include “secondary pollutant emissions in homes,“ and “pollutant transport to indoor surfaces,” for example.
Morrison states:
“Since proximity to a pollutant source is as important at the source strength, we have begun evaluating pollutant dynamics and chemistry in the region around the human body, specifically the head region.
“We have learned that ozone flux to human hair is very fast, and that ozone reactions with human sebum will be responsible for lower ozone exposure, but also responsible for higher exposure to oxidation products such as aldehydes and ketones.”
Aha, here’s where it actually gets interesting, albeit meandering, so stay with me.
They found that dirty hair absorbs seven times the amount of ozone — a respiratory irritant — compared to clean hair.
This means, when you let your hair go to funk, you inhale one-seventh the amount of ozone as your squeaky clean neighbor (since your hair absorbed more of it).
But, the ozone level is only lowered because of the chemical reactions that take place with the squalene in your skin, AND while ozone levels are lowered, secondary chemical reactions create yet another nasty byproduct: 4-oxopentanal, which is a different respiratory irritant.
Are you still with me?
To recap the finding, grungy hair does NOT necessarily mean healthier air around your head, due to the secondary byproduct being produced, and Glenn Morrison states that this finding, in and of itself, may not mean anything.
But, in another published study, “Personal reactive clouds: Introducing the concept of near-head chemistry,” co-authored by Morrison, they found that ozone reactions with certain chemicals contained in personal care products can lead to elevated, and potentially harmful levels of ozonides, which rapidly decompose into carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes and ketones.
In plain English, your personal care products can spell double-trouble for your health.
First, by being absorbed into your skin — which I’ve written about before — and as described here, through the process of chemical reactions with your skin and hair. Hence the reason for this grungy hair study.
Morrison underscores just how little we know about ozone — that unstable oxygen molecule (O3) that oxidizes anything it bumps into — and how we may be exposed to unknown toxins simply because we don’t understand how it reacts with our body chemistry.
What Health Concerns ARE Implicated by This Study?
In conclusion, this “nonsensical” study actually points out two important areas of potential health hazards, due to the secondary chemical reactions that occur with ozone.
First, personal care products that are sprayed or applied to your skin (such as lotions, hair spray and perfume) can cause secondary chemical reactions, causing you to be exposed to high levels of potentially dangerous compounds.
And second, it also points out yet another reason for avoiding ozone generators and ionic air filters in your home.
Although ozone generators work for removing odors, killing mold and mildew, it can also kill small animals with enough exposure. And what this research tells us is that there may be many more secondary reactions that we’re just not familiar with yet that can harm your health.
To wrap this up, I recommend you review the related articles below about BAU Biologie & Ecology for more information on how to improve everything from your indoor air quality, to the health of your entire home.
3/21/08 7:34 pm
I believe Summer 08 or sooner! However, due to the lay-people who experienced regrowth by injury or self mutilation, Follica may have something. At the very least, the technique will able to help bring additional hair to frame the face and hide scars etc.. It is not always the quantity but quality that trully matters.
Sorry for the post above just go to this thread as it relates greasy hair and Mercola’s comment.
On another note, see Dr. Mercola’s comment on his up coming treatment and Dr. Phils. Hope he is not lying!!! http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/22/can-greasy-hair-protect-your-lungs.aspx
3/22/08 10:49 am
R,
I couldn’t in that link find the treatment of those two guys, maybe you have some other?
Also, what kind of worries me about Follica’s method is messing with the WNT pathways. I have read that researchers have tried WNT proteins before to increase hair growth, and it did, but those mice later developed cancerous tumours. So I really hope Follica have found some way to avoid these tumours this time. Do you have any info on this R?
3/22/08 3:09 pm
No, None was mentioned. However, He was happy about Follica’s breakthrough. So I assume based on timing and Mercolas careful approach to medicine (he criticizes everything) this is the technology he boasted about some time back and stated something like how happy he was to see science tackle baldness (shows you no matter the person, baldenss sucks). Subscribe to his free news letter and see how careful he is about any innovation let alone trying it on himself. He even restricts vitamin and supplement intake. So to my suprise he stated this in his news letter, which doesn’t seem factitious.
Follica,s technique is just using our natural healing process but souping the healing sooner. Based on past studies the introduction of the wnt factor was by other means that I can’t explain but represented a more artificial approach than compared to natural healing. Remember this healing process was discovered back in the 1950’s but dismissed by biased practioners that would not challenge the norm of medicine.
This technique seems different and duplicated (somewhat) by sport injuries and self probing using a couple of ingredients by many people as Follica’s Reps stated contacted them about there breakthrough and how it mad sense to the victims as more hair grew back.
Dr. Mercola also stated that if he took antioxidents he would have kept his hair. Who knows for sure but I feel and wish this will work. They are regrowing finger tips and this should be one facet of innovation.
3/23/08 11:33 am
Update on Intercytex, which failed based on the latest report. However, hopefully it opens new avenues and knowledge to support hair research.
Please look at the latest discovery and the people trying to solve and cure hairloss. I believe since greater understanding of the genetics and the human body, scientist are gathering much information to solve and cure diseases.
See the link for additional discoveries.
http://www.uni-bonn.de/en/News/108_2008.html
3/24/08 12:37 pm
Hi all,
We appreciate all the comments and queries, especially about an update on Follica’s progress. We checked in with the company, which says it has no updates to share at this time. We will stay on this. Thanks again–Bob
3/30/08 11:30 am
Any news that Dr. Mercola and Dr. Phil are taken part of this research? Dr. Mercola’s staff stated that if it is written in his news letter than it is true. They would not elaborate on it further.
3/30/08 12:01 pm
Do you think they meant Follica? Or maybe it’s some other stem cell treatment that we haven’t heard about?
Also, I wonder what it says to us that they regrew hair on human skin attached to a mouse. It’s still not the same (I guess) as human skin attached on the human body, but does that tell anything about how likely it will work on humans?
3/30/08 1:58 pm
I believve he meant Follica due to his past statements made after Cotsarelis breakthrough. Also, why not use high profile people to sell the product. Dr. Phil is running reruns and one episode stated that he did not disagree/ plastic surgery as long as you are mentally sound. Also, for Mercola to jump on the bandwagon is crucial to the potential success of the treatment, including cosmetic, safety and quality of the procedure.
Now, in regards to using a mouse, the experiment is being reported by lay-people and Follica Reps stated that they have been receiving calls from people stating they too had regrowth after injuries. This year will bring a new era to the unstanding of hair growth. Hair experts are identifying new genes and the on/off switch to activate the receptor. The latest breakthrough shows genes are on all the time but only wispering. They may need to only increase the frequency. Remember, they are growing finger tips already and using hair follicles to make skin. It wont be long for something new due to many more people accepting hairloss and willing to wait out the current procedures. To make money, the industry needs to step up! The competition knows the potential jackpot and the race is on for the cure or viable treatment. I continue to contact Mercola’s reps for more feedback. I guess we monitor Dr. Phil over the next several months, if it is true!
4/10/08 1:27 pm
Dr. Mercola’s staff acknowledged he is to participate in a Topical Adult Stem Cell treatment and will communicate the progress as it continues. They are careful about saying anything more other than “This is something he is working on and they have limited knowledge” I don’t know all the facts other than we wait and see!
4/10/08 3:25 pm
Oh, so this Dr. Mercola is one of the developers of the treatment? So you think he is maybe helping Follica?
4/10/08 7:29 pm
No, not a developer, but a viable target due to his extent of hairloss and that he is very anal about evrything. Also, Mercola’s reach in the media and Internet will help seel the product if it works. Trust that Mercola is skeptical about everything, so this is big if he tries the procedure. So, if Dr. Mercola is willing to try this formula regardless if it’s from Follica or another source, he believes in the product and that he has a 90% chance of restoring his head of hair. Now, this year and the subsequent three will mark the target range for the product to hit the market according to Follica. Mercola may not be using Follica, but I highly doubt he has another formula. Elaine Fuchs and Cotsarelis are working together I believe which was documented on another site. Follica Reps also stated that they share information with the top scientist to trully solve and cure this diease. Just wait and see as we trully don’t know until the news is updated. However, since baldness is being accepted, they have to create a new platform to sell the product against past subpar products or failures of other researchers. The end will come due to the knowledge being gained at record speeds by mapping and understanding the human body from the inside out. Remember University of Bonn thread that shows a drug target for many types of hairloss. The race is continuing to end baldness and reap billions of dollars and folklore appraisal.
4/12/08 6:36 am
Great news from Follica: there is the patent that they will use!
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/fetch.jsp?SEARCH_IA=US2007020842&DBSELECT=PCT&C=10&TOTAL=5&IDB=0&TYPE_FIELD=256&SERVER_TYPE=19-10&QUERY=%28FP%2Fcotsarelis%29+&START=1&ELEMENT_SET=B&SORT=41240713-KEY&RESULT=1&DISP=25&FORM=SEP-0%2FHITNUM%2CB-ENG%2CDP%2CMC%2CAN%2CPA%2CABSUM-ENG&IDOC=1408926&IA=US2007020842&LANG=ENG&DISPLAY=DESC
4/12/08 9:17 am
Really nice. So now the method is there and they can basically start the trials immediately. I hope the initial trials will start now during the summer, as R wrote before.
4/13/08 1:35 pm
Finding this article and all of your comments really made my day. If this cures baldness I can’t describe how happy it will make me (I am wayyy too young for this :( ).
Two question though, I still have a good amount of hair on my head, would getting this treatment kill all the hair I currently have?
Also, is there any word on the amount of hair that grows back from this? Could this actually just… fix you? Like.. to the thickness/amount of hair you had in those teen years?
4/13/08 2:13 pm
Well, it is basically a waiting game now. We just have to wait and see how the results will be. As I wrote earlier about this kid that got a full head of hair (he could comb it, style it any way he wanted, just like a teenager), it seems possible to retain the great thickness and amount you had before. This kid was basically born with this genetic defecit, so he had a male pattern baldness look (only some hair at the back of the scalp, none on the front) during his 13-14 years, until he applied motor oil, got scars, removed them and voila. Now the question is of course, will it work every time and for everyone, that is something we hopefully will find out very soon (I personally think it will, since these processes of regeneration seem to be present in all of us).
I don’t think it would kill all the hair you currently have if it is done properly, since this guy still had hair at the back of the scalp, as he had before. I’m not into this science so much, so I can’t make any justifiable, scientific statement.
4/13/08 4:16 pm
It is a waiting game, but a viable time to witness this disease to end and or create another platform from which to fill in hair. Consistency was mentioned as one of the great results of this technique as it worked too well not to bring to market as stated in the MSNBC string above. You see, you only need 50% of the total volume for dark-haired / fair skinned people and around 20-40% of the original thickness to create a good volume of hair for other hair color and skin types. This is the premise of HT. Now, because new knowledge has surfaced and greater attention is given to solve the problem, I would guess within three-years to solve this problem.
My communication and further reading has shown a target of four years but many say two-three years. One post stated an insider w/Follica gave 1-2 years? Let’s see what happens but Follica Reps as I stated earlier are receiving many phone calls and e-mails by lay-people describing similar results via accidents.
Now, utilizing controlled scientific masterminds, the results should be far greater and consistent. Remember, you just need the procedure at least to restore 50% (at least) but let’s hope 100%. To kill the existing hair would probably not occur due to the technigue (many size instruments for unique areas would be my guess) to restore and tackle small / in-between areas and hopefully change the micro-environment to keep the hair growing. Another important part is to cover scars which allow HT patients to hide their donor scars and those suffering from accidents, brain surgery etc.. that will benefit. Remember the growing finger tip by a particular extract sent by mail to a man by his brother. It just took 4 weeks. People, growing hair should be easier as the human body has regenerating properties and scientist are now admitting and backing this claim by growing all kinds of tissue and organs. We should see something soon that guide the next three-fours years. Scientist are aware now of the patent and if Follica becomes too static, others will take advantage of the technique by alternative methods. This is seen in the automotive and other arenas. Follica Reps know that they have a small window to succeed.
4/13/08 6:45 pm
But what I am wondering about is why it would take 3-4 years? Is it because of these regulations by the FDA? Assuming of course that they succeed the first time they try this out.
4/13/08 6:55 pm
The three-Four years offers a cushion regardless of advanced knowledge. Remember there are potential setbacks (may need to tweak the formula or application to suite humans), proof-of-concept studies (pilot studies) that require a full hair cycle i.e several months to see the true results, followed by a larger group study (see percentage of success). This also entails training said practioners and creating enough supply of the formula for the demand. The FDA already apporved the ingredients and the actual application for hair growth will entail some proof to the FDA but not through so many loop holes. Regardless of path taken, if they can swing it in four years, I would be grateful. In the meantime, take half of a propecia pill and pray it happens sooner. based on some knowledge and comments, this could come out in two-three years!
See this string for Regenerative Medicine Breakthroughs http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/04/12/re-growing-organs-the-future-is-here.aspx
4/14/08 9:16 am
Yeah, that sounds reasonable. As I wrote before, I am very optimistic about this approach. Let’s just follow the progress and continue posting all new things we find out on this forum!
4/16/08 6:21 pm
Folks: Dr. Mercola’s staff acknowledged that he is participating in a Topical Adult Stem Cell procedure to restore his hair and would not elaborate further other than it is true and he will update further information as he progresses.
Now, I contacted Follica and the receptionist does not have knowledge of him but offered that she is out of the loop. She did want his name though to research. I figure they would not admit anythig due to Non-Disclosed Agreement. Basically, Follica stated that they will start very soon and she paused before that comment, so maybe they already have, who knows!
I thought that I should share this information and it could be that Dr. Mercola is trying something else not previously known? But, I still bet on Follica!
Note to the administrator: Have heard of a start date and or would a Follica Rep communicate any further on this topic?
4/16/08 6:28 pm
This is really exciting, especially since I have so much hope in this! You give me goose bumps every time R! :)
4/17/08 6:19 am
Hm, maybe Dr. Mercola will try out Acell’s product, the regenerative powder? I’ve heard it is already being tested on soldiers in the US to regrow limbs.
4/17/08 4:59 pm
I have noticed that people with plaster casts have a lot of hair growth after the casts are removed. What is this phenomenon due to and could it be applicable to the scalp?
4/19/08 7:45 am
Yeah I’ve also heard about it. Maybe it’s something else happening there, the hairs maybe become thicker and grow faster or something, but I don’t think you create new hair follicles. And those areas are not sensitivite do DHT I think, so it’s another situation there. But that is also maybe in some sense a proof of skins own regenerative ability. So let’s just wait and hope Follica activates this regenerative process and that it renders hair once again on bald scalps!
4/23/08 12:56 pm
R,
I heard (on the HairLoss Help forum) that Mercola’s stem cell treatment was just an April Fool’s joke and that there is no such treatment that he will participate in. A guy on those forums asked Mercola’s stuff and they wrote that to him.
4/24/08 2:17 pm
I was referring to another story that was unrelated and this came out way before the Aprils Fools Sea Algae reference. His sources stated that it was true. Please remember that my reply’s are based on actual responses by the source and not by opinion. The article referenced was different and did not relate to the one mentioned. Contact Mercola’s group and reference the one above and yu should get a different reply. Mercola did state that it was an April fools joke in the second article unrelated to the Greasy /Polution Hair article back in early-mid March. Either way, since shaving heads is in and hair loss is being accepted, a cure or damn near approach will have to surface or the hair industry will fall way short of past profits. Word-of-mouth on the web is exposing inferior products and will expose inferior doctors and their potions like Dr. Proctor etc…
4/24/08 2:39 pm
The March Letter stated above is true and just confirmed that Dr. Mercola will participate in an upcoming Hair Growth program and that the March news letter is unrelated to the April fools Joke. (please be wary of most hairloss forums as most speak without proper research). Here are real questions and answeres by his staff to solidify the news.
(2:35:12 PM) Answer: We do know that he will be participating in a study
(2:35:42 PM) Q: So this article is unrelated to the April Fools Joke
(2:36:11 PM) Answer: yes, but he will give more information in upcoming newsleters
4/24/08 3:53 pm
Hey guys,
I’m “that” guy from hairlosshelp. Lol. I sent a question to the company via email about the supposed adult stem cell treatment, and they referred me to the April Fool’s joke. Now, the joke has nothing to do with stem cells so it’s possible whoever answered my question was confused. The date on “the quote” was March 22 and roughly a week later (when Dr. Phil was supposed to start) was April 1st. I don’t mean to spread rumors, I am just saying what they told me.
R, you sound very intelligent and trustworthy. I really hope you are right about everything, but where exactly are you getting these answers? It looks like a chat room of sorts? It is possible you can’t divulge the source but is it someone that works for Mercola, the doctor himself, etc.?
Sorry for any confusion, I’m just as hopeful about this as anyone else.
4/24/08 4:52 pm
Thank you! The answers are brought forward by the Mercola chat box where a live operator anaswers your questions. Telephone responses are alomost zero, so the chat method is guranteed for now. Mercola’s people are sending inquiries to their QA portal on the website. The pattern of the discussion went from if he wrote it then it must be true………until now where the response is Yes, it’s true and he will update the subscribers as the testing develops.
Now, I did ask the same question under different genders to help solicit how they would respond to people of all ages and sex. Diviant, yes, but the truth is an elusive response only brought forward by true emotional connections. But, I digress!
Mercola’s staff acknowledged as you see in the above response that the April Fools Joke is not related to the previous March 22, 2008 article and that Dr. Mercola will participate in the study soon. Now, this is significant as Follica Rep stated they will begin very soon. Connection??? Hopefully and remeber my previous post that Dr. Mercola is very careful and trust hardly anyone with any scientific or medicinal approaches without true research and application. Dr. Mercola is willing to partake in this clinical proof of concept study shows true value and first-time results beyond anything we can imagine. I am hopeful too, but approach this scientific experiment cautiously and respectfully based on the literature and support by “select” doctors that may know more than what is being published. You see, when you ask and approach the matter in different angles, you gain further knowledge by communicating questions and answers beyond the normal Q/A response and make (subconciously) the target individual to communicate more information than they wanted to prior. However, the tone and pause after specific questions allows you the receiver to capture mannerism that bring about more data.
Mercola’s staff and Follica responded from subpar answers to more definite responses that changed over in just one month. This tells me that they know more and that greater knowledge is being gained beyond the media report. Elaine Fuchs and Cotsarelis are joining forces where one masters the signaling pathways and the other in a totally different concept or should I say the same concept that was known and buried since the 1950’s. Other scientist gained knowlegde of the public patent and will try to bypass regulatory pathways to create their own breakthroughs.
As for Dr. Phil, I don’t know due to he looks the same so far, but could change over time and or he opt out until others went through the research. We have read the string that Mercola’s group stated Yes today where one month ago they were not sure due to dis-connect in the internal communication channels. But further research and meetings stated Yes, it is true. We now wait and hope! Also, The government is supporting regenrative medicine to accomplish it in five years. This also supports hairloss as eac regenrative breakthrough helps scientist understand signaling pathways, which are now being identified as easier than predicted just 10 years ago.
4/24/08 5:14 pm
GREAT! I HAPPILY stand corrected… We’ve got at least one high-profile volunteer, let’s all start praying this stuff works! Thanks for your help, please keep us posted with anything you learn!!
4/24/08 5:45 pm
Yes, thanks R. Your posts are always very insightful, and optimistic.
Now let’s hope Follica starts testing…. SOON!!!!! We’re all very anxious to see if this technology will work on honest to goodness human beings.
4/24/08 6:20 pm
I just went from 6 to 12
4/24/08 7:05 pm
Hi !!!! I´m sorry about my english it´s been a long time without writting. Doing a little research I found this forum, and Im soo glad !! I live in Europe, and all the news that i´ve hear about hair loss solutions are about Intercintex. But I didn´t like the last results that they published last month. So I thought that was time to talk about Follica, and yeah !! a very important newspaper made a an article about it… and they interviewed very important doctors asking them about follica and their treatment, and the answers were not very positives, they don´t see it happening in a long long time … Why are the been so negative about it ? Its cause of the distance that they dont get it ? or its that they still trust in Intercyntex (U.K) solutions ?? I rather go with Follica … but thats me
4/24/08 8:58 pm
Why would most doctors believe in true miracles. Most are subpar and don’t even have the knowledge or background (i.e all the data) to make an informed decision. People, cures or great performing products take away many dollars from greedy practioners. Look at how many people rely on hair growth products under different names, they would be shot down for good.
Remember that i am like you and want a cure. My information is through research and comparing discussions and communicating with the elite people. Check this out as Teeth are also part of the same innovation and don’t forget the University of Bonn.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/04/22/tooth-regeneration-you-may-never-have-to-use-or-hear-a-dentist-drill-again.aspx
Doctors hate to see innovation that breaks through the common ground of medicine. These doctors are who? and what interest do they have about Follica. If they read and witnessed the study, would they say the same thing? These practioners like most lay-people are conditioned to witnesse failure and caos based on the media reporting mix results about medicine and the lack of true cures especially hair loss. However, they forgot this was done in 1950’s as was HT, but most doctors are static in their beliefs.
Look at the first open heart surgery (blue baby). The fellow doctors mocked and laughed at the attempt to open heart surgery. Well it worked and open heart surgery is mainstay, well now so advanced that many people I know walk out the next day like nothing happened. You see, they hate to see colleagues advance and like the cushioned arena. Only the select caring doctors that go across the grain succeed beyond the norms of society and achieve medical breakthroughs. Again, please post the doctors background and interest to see why they want it to fail.
4/25/08 7:47 pm
Forum members: Remember that many research projects take time and the Hair program is one that shows results over a year period. The hair may grow in three months, but the rate of growth and true visibility is more like 6-10 months. When I reply to the questions, they are based on true one-to-one phone and e-mail conversations. Many doctors are wary of hair loss cures due to past failures and it is easier to shoot down innovation in this field due to the high failure mark. Now, people wjho don’t suyffer from hair loss (other than those who’s children suffer) do not want the bald to be hairy again. Competition grows! I may sound paranoid but I study people and economics enough to see how people respond to treatments.
The government does not care either as we rely on joggers and marathon runners to cure cancer. Why haven’t they banned smokin? Diabetes association was approached by a possible cure and turned away, why money would lost. People who care are the minority and we must believe in those that want to trully heal. Fortunately Follica has many bald investors and executives that want their hair back so that is a good sign.
My point is that the people that shoot down innovation are scared and or greedy to relinguish their money pot and or even the playing fields. Trust me in that Follica see’s billions to be made and that is the fuel. But the caring minds to heal and cure paves the moral obligation to succeed.
We all hope and pray it works for everyone. Children, elderly, women and men that are scarred and disfigured rely on this too. Never assume that money is not the first and foremost reason behind business ventures. No one cares enough about you to do this or any medical breakthrough for free. Some doctors do offer treatments for free, but money and support comes from somewhere. This is the time to witness innovation never seen before and we will either solve hair loss or create another platform from which to achieve.
It is easy to say people will fail as this was the case forever. Why wouldn’t they as the ball always landed in their laps. I believe that will succeed but time is all we have to witness the outcome. Stay at this forum and ask questions, pressure Follica and Mercola, University of Bonn and Elaine Fuchs. Call the elderly, children, men and women to state their desire to be cured. Once the voices are heard, the dollar signs will transmit obedience to the crying souls that will one day look in the mirror and smile. Our voices represent our only arsenal. Other hair sites are hypes without true research. Only speak to the actual researchers and venture capitalist to gain the ruth as everyone else just speculates. I cannot impress upon more!!!
Hairloss products that work onlY!!! Propecia and Rogaine. Never shampoo and or anything else from any business. The MPB Website has natural supplements from Life Extension that should help. Never buy shampoo from Proctor and Revita or any other source as they are hype. Shampoos don’t work!!!
Look at the real studies first and has the FDA tested the results and product? Stay away from all other hair products no matter the story and you will see the business fail and the real products that offer a real solution appear. We must sink the bogus product to make the hair industry people find real solutions. Spread the word!
4/25/08 8:00 pm
R, you are absolutely right. I cannot tell you the amount of people that love seeing us bald. Our society feeds off of money and insecurity. This sounds stupid, but the only way for bald people to get a cure is to work together since we are the only ones with the desire to put the wheels in motion.
4/25/08 8:05 pm
R, are you on any other forums? If not, you should be. The audience is much greater and I feel you have things to say that should be heard.
I have also studied economics and society only furthers itself when people act out of self interest. This is our self interest.
4/26/08 10:02 am
No, I stay here only due to not wanting to fall into the noise that is created on other forums. many are people are full of it and just make noise. If this forum falls prey to to the same format, I will leave.
The important aspect of this forum is prevent loss of money, will and hope and to speak only when the information is valid by the source. We need to ask and then report based on facts from the horses mouth and not by opinion of forum members that trully don’t know what is happening behind closed doors. This keeps us in the know “now” and a path to learn more as the real answers are published.
People, they are growing limbs (finger tips and soon body parts) and today organs. Trust that hair follicles won’t be far behind and remember that the follicles don’t die, just sleeping. Scientist are trying to enhance the signal which is now wispering and not turned off to grow hair back. People have grown hair back after being a norwood 5 for over 40 years on their head by taken strong anti-inflammatory drugs (not reccommended) but this shows the follicles are alive and ready to grow back. Just need to increase the volume of the signal, ours are turned down just as a dial on a radio. You see, many facets can grow hair, we just need the right drug or application to bring it back. Soon it will be so I believe and hope just as you do and think it will happen due to the billions to be made and the down-turn in the hair loss business. People are accepting hair loss now and to make money they need a viable solution. Within 5-10 years baldness will just another part of life that people just accept beyond the norms of 10 years ago. This year and the next will be very important to hair loss suffers.
Having hair does not matter to most “real” women, as you can see how opposites attract so be yourself and don’t giove upyour life as their is someone for everyone and you find a handsome man or pretty women to spend your life. Look at the people with half a body with normal mates and tatoo faced people and the lizard man all with normal looking mates. People live and just know God is there to help no matter the obstacle.
I hope all of you prosper and enjoy life to the fullest.
4/26/08 9:16 pm
Forum Members, Innovation from another perspective. This shows that much is being gained about hair loss and many of the drugs used today are side effects of other medical measures fro example {Minoxidol = Heart, Propecia = Enlarged Prostate) They work well but now as scientist target and create drugs and or treatments for hair loss, the results will be more dramatic. I should have included these earlier. But you see that many scientist want to cure hair loss and have dedicated their careers and life to end the disease. Please read below from Jan and Feb 2008. I believe more will come later on this article and others such U of Bonn as much is being learned and shared with Follica and others as stated by Follica Reps. They share information and build upon each others breakthroughs. However, much is still secret among the leaders but they share among a select few such as Fuchs and Cotsarelis. The Jan 25 article shows the significance of ant-inflammatory on the scalp as stated earlier in my previous post when a man grew hair on his head after being a norwood 5 for years. The technique is not ready yet but shows progress and another path when it is perfected. I hope this helps you all to see the diverse path of innovation and potential hair loss cures.
(Jan. 25, 2008) — Like fine china and crystal, which tend to be used sparingly, stem cells divide infrequently. It was thought they did so to protect themselves from unnecessary wear and tear. But now new research from Rockefeller University has unveiled the protein that puts the brakes on stem cell division and shows that stem cells may not need such guarded protection to maintain their potency.
This research, to be published in the January 25 issue of Cell, raises questions about what stem cells need in order to maintain their ability to regenerate tissue. It may also be key in developing new treatments for thinning hair.
The impetus for the work began five years ago when Elaine Fuchs, head of the Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, and several researchers in her lab discovered that the protein NFATc1 was one of only a few that are highly expressed within the stem cell compartment of the hair follicle. Clinical research, meanwhile, showed that a particular immunosuppressant that inhibits NFATc1, a drug called cyclosporine A, has a rather unsightly side effect: excessive hair growth.
Fuchs and Valerie Horsley, a postdoc in her lab, realized that there was a connection between the drug’s side effect and the abundance of NFATc1 within the hair follicle’s stem cell compartment — the bulge. The mice they treated with the drug grew fur at a much faster rate than mice they did not treat. The researchers then showed that this excessive hair growth was due to increased stem cell activity within the bulge, a process that cranked up the production of hair. Specifically, the hair cycle shifted gears from its resting phase, when stem cells slumber, to its growth phase, when stem cells proliferate.
To maintain their multipotent properties, though, it appears that these stem cells hardly needed much “rest” at all. These findings came as a surprise to the researchers, who, like their colleagues, had believed that stem cells proliferating infrequently protected them from depletion or mutations that would lead to hair loss. “It seems like the resting phase isn’t as necessary as was once thought,” says Horsley. “Even though these stem cells are highly proliferative, they still maintain their stem cell character.”
Using genetically engineered mice bred by colleagues at Harvard Medical School, Horsley and Fuchs then further explored what happens when skin stem cells lack NFATc1. They found that these mice looked exactly like the hairy mice that were treated with cyclosporine A: The loss of NFATc1 didn’t stop the hair cycle, but rather shortened the resting phase and prompted precocious entry to the growth state.
In probing the underlying mechanisms mediating this process, Horsley and Fuchs discovered that NFATc1, a transcription factor, blocks the expression of a gene that provides the cell cycle with “go ahead” signals at certain checkpoints. By blocking these signals, NFATc1 prevents the stem cells from dividing, preventing unnecessary wear and tear. These same cells, if treated with cyclosporine A, show a rapid loss of the transcription factor, an effect that turns the light green at these checkpoints.
For those with thinning hair, this research may hold promise. As people age, the resting phase of the hair cycle gets longer and longer such that the stem cells proliferate less frequently and hair does not grow at the rate it once did. “If we could use a local and more specific inhibitor of NFATc1 than cyclosporine A to stimulate these stem cells, which are just sitting there during an extended resting phase, we might be able to promote new hair growth,” says Fuchs, who is Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor at Rockefeller and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. “In a sense, by blocking NFATc1 activity in our older mice, their hair follicles were brought back to what appeared to be a more youthful state.”
So far, these proliferating stem cells lacking NFATc1 have not led to increased tumor formation, which is often a dangerous byproduct of triggering stem cells into action. “This is the first case where we have been able to activate the hair cycle without accompanying signs of tumorigenesis,” says Fuchs. “If we can control the activation process of follicle stem cells without promoting tumorigenesis, then this would be a big move in the right direction.”
This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. Fuchs is a faculty member in Rockefeller’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science, which is supported by the NIH’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program.
Article 2
Hair Formation, Skin Stem Cells And BMP Signaling
The February 15th cover story of G&D reports on the recent discovery by Dr. Elaine Fuchs and colleagues at the Rockefeller University that BMP signaling in dermal papilla cells is important for hair follicle formation.
The dermal papilla (DP) is a small cluster of mesenchymal cells that exist at the base of the hair follicle, and instruct nearby epithelial stem cells to induce hair follicle growth. But because DP cells are so few in number, and loose their hair-inducing potential in culture, the details of this molecular conversation have remained elusive.
Dr. Fuchs’ team developed a clever genetic strategy to delete specific genes of interest in DP cells, and then graft these genetically engineered cells onto the backs of immunocompromised (and bald) mice, to study the effect of gene deficiency on hair growth.
The researchers found that deletion of the receptor for the bone morphogenetic protein 1a (BMPR1a) in DP cells prevented the formation of hair follicles in engrafted mice. However, if BMPR1a is intact in DP cells, and a bit more BMP protein is added to the cells, then the DP-stem cell cross-talk is prolonged, and recipient mice grow a tuft of hair on their otherwise bald backs.
“Several years ago, we devised a method to purify the cells and characterize the genes expressed by the DP and its neighboring cells that make hair,” says Fuchs. “This gave us clues that BMP signaling might be important in specifying the unique hair-inducing properties of DP cells. We’ve now succeeded in testing this possibility and our findings are important not only for our understanding of the mesenchymal-epithelial crosstalk that is so critical for hair production, but also for developing new and improved methods for stimulating hair growth.”
4/27/08 8:40 pm
Regarding other hair loss sites: We have people who visit different forums expressing their knowledge and stating that the cure or procedure won’t avilable for at least 20 years. These people then should walk away from all forums if they trully believe this remark. The same should be for this forum if you want to rely on the other sites without hearing from the source and then waiting a respectable time frame.
I don’t have all the answers and wait just like you. However, my reply’s come from the source and if you read other blogs, the remarks and answers are noise. Nothing worthwhile happens in a day so wait it out unless you have the cure. Follica is getting near to trials and this I see through the lack of responses due to secrecy. People brought Intercytex to the front lines?? Anyone backed up by Bosley is subject and that is why I never believed in them nor tracked them.
Remember to keep this forum INTELLIGENT we must answer based on known and communicated facts by the sources. The Chat reference is Mercolas chat line and will show time stamp etc… I took out the name of the customer rep out of respect for the person. When people such as Follica etc.. become quiet, it means that we are nearing an important phase of the program and nobody should communicate to the audience due to secrecy and trial safety.
I ask that if you hear people say the cure won’t arrive for 10-20years, then please ask the person to leave the forum for that time. If they don’t, their response is either out of anger and or lies, meaning they don’t believe their own words. If they did, why would they stay? This shows the noise being generated by people who don’t trully believe in what their saying or they would have left for that time frame above.
None of us have the answer but only to reiterate the Q/A by the actual scientist and reps, nothing more as we all know that our knowledge is limited. My advice, stay close to the forum and communicate true knowledge only. All the Follica, Mercola, Fuchs, Bonn etc.. can be reached by each individual here today. Don’t wait but express a great need to the target innovators to end this disease.
On a another note, if you frequent the other forums (don’t know why) ask the nay-sayers to leave for good as they believe nothing will come in our lifetime. If they saty, their just frustrated noise makers, some of whom don’t suffer from hair loss (I presume!).
P.S. The G-Receptor represents a target for drugs including the U of Bonn and Fuchs to create hair loss drugs by switching the on the receptor. Even though the article does not state hair loss, every innovation compliments all diseases. see article string
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424112445.htm
4/28/08 12:12 am
I’ve visited some of those hair loss forums and they’re mostly full of embittered men who dismiss any kind of scientific advancements as innovative as this one because it’s just been such a painful process for them over the course of many years, so in a way, I can’t blame the poor buggers. But even so, they shouldn’t post mis-information out of anger and frustration.
I’m still quite young in my early 20’s, and I’ve jumped on my hair loss problem quite early with the current available products, but I’m still not quite satisfied (even if I have what would be regarded as a “full head of hair”), so it’s very comforting and exciting to know that if worst comes to worst for me, highly reliable treatment (cure even!) like this will be available sooner than people think. With my minimal hair loss, the cost shouldn’t be too much to bear.
Before you know it, you’ll be seeing more and more men walking around with hairlines like Judge Andrew Napolitano!
4/28/08 9:47 pm
Don’t you guys think there is a strong possibility that Follica won’t even tell us when they are in trials? Reason for this being that they are a privately held corporation that doesn’t need to communicate to the public unless they want to. I’m just curious.
4/29/08 11:37 am
That I’m not sure about. It’s possible that they wouldn’t tell anyone about their trials, but the fact that they released videos of the rats that grew hair, and the interviews they have done etc would lead me to believe they are a fairly open company.
Perhaps they would be more secretive if they weren’t confident in the results of these trials, but if these Mercola and (especially) Dr. Phil rumors turn out true, there is no way they are anything but confident, since the results are there for everyone to see.
Personally, I think trials may be very close to starting, or may have already started, but we probably will not hear anything until the results are in.
There is, however, a lot of hype around the potential for this, and the longer we go without word the more likely we are to see that hype turn to the negative. So if there are positive signs early on I really hope someone at Follica (David from above perhaps) lets us all know :)
4/29/08 1:47 pm
D,
Where did you hear about the motor oil story? Do you have a link? I’d like to know more about the procedure he got - for scar removal. Was it simple dermabrasion, chemical peel etc.
4/29/08 2:24 pm
Folks, I read in a site called Hairsite that people contacted Follica and Jen stated that the it will take several years before they would have something available / answer for the target audience. Right away the responses stated 10 years away etc… Well, I contacted Jen to explain her version of several years and she stated 2-4 years. Again, assumptions without contacting and asking the people to explain further.
We will hear something as they move along and if people are achieving the same results via injury, motor oil etc… I would expect a scientific board with strong analytical and body / cell knowledge would be able to achieve at least the same results if not more.
We have been conditioned to see failure in this arena so we must take it for it is another path beyond the normal reasoning we were conditioned to see over the years. I wouldn’t wait for Dr. Phil as I highly doubt due to his public apperance he would risk something fairly new (could be wrong) but Mercola and others are knowledgeable about something so it is a waiting game.
David from Follica and or the site Monitor would like to comment further?
4/29/08 3:47 pm
G,
I heard about the motor oil story from my mother, so I do not have any links about it. Those people were her neighbours in the 1960’s, and they had a son that basically had no hair at the top and front of the scalp, only at the back. His parents said he had that since he was born basically. And so one day that happened and after they removed the scars he got a lot of hair. And when I read Follica’s patent application I saw “antiinflammatory” as a treatment method to the injuries, and then it struck me a bit: maybe those doctors in the 1960’s used antiinflammatory drugs to the wounds after scar removal and that contributed to the incredible hair growth.
After the kid came home, they all commented: oh my look at his hair!! it’s incredible!
And I asked my mom: why didn’t people that were bald at that time pursue this and contacted the doctors to ask them what they have done? Mom said that she doesn’t know, but she says it’s probably because people didn’t care at that time if you had hair or not (it all happened in a small town in old Yugoslavia). I found that kinda hard to believe since I personally care and a lot of other people, but at that time there were not so many bald people in her neighbourhood and probably not all heard about what happened. And the doctors, well as we know, people have observed this in the U.S. too 50 years ago, but nothing was done. Probably the same reason made this doctors not to pursue this any further; they were happy that the kid recovered from that terrible injury, and the hair, well it’s just a plus :) But my mom, and other people living neighbours with them, are living evidence of this event, so it’s nothing made up. Because of this, as R said, I am hoping and expecting them to reach at least that at some point in their research (since I believe it is something that is possible in all of us, not just to that kid and his genetics).
So just as R said, let’s just wait and try to find out if possible some “insider” information (by knowledgable persons) on how it’s going with the study. And I totally agree with R, let’s not create a HairLoss Forum of this site, but instead only write about REAL advances being made.
4/29/08 10:17 pm
I sent follica some questions regarding the trials and whether or not they would try and grow hair on the backs of heads or thighs in addition to bald scalp. Jen stated she couldn’t disclose details since they are in development. She also said they have no specific date for trials (other than they hope to start trials in Boston soon) and that she cannot anticipate precisely when this will be launched as a commercial product.
Time to be optimistic: She said she can’t anticipate WHEN it will be launched, not IF it will be launched. Is that good news in and of itself or am I just looking too far into her statement?
Either way, she assured me any progress they made would be announced to the public so now it is just a matter of time if and when they start human testing.
I just really hope (as we all do) that this is the last time we ever have to get our hopes up.
4/30/08 2:40 pm
On Hairloss Help Forums, once again there is a post of a guy doing needling and achieving regrowth. He used needling of the scalp and a cortisone cream. He did not do it for a while he says cause he has been busy with other things in life, but the remarkable thing is that the hair he regrew was still there today! So it seems that DHT will not affect these new hairs. Here is the link to that post:
http://www.hairlosshelp.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=60025
And this, to me, gives once again more credit to Follica’s approach. It really seems to work! Follica has now to figure out a way to wound the scalp in a better and more effective way than a needle, and hopefully those other substances they will add are more effective than the cortisone (which, if I’m not mistaken, is also antiinflammatory, which Follica also plans to try out?).
4/30/08 7:17 pm
People, The only problem I have with the individual claiming hair re-growth after the cortisone and self needling he stated to achieve continuous hair growth is that the before and after pictures are non-existent. This does not represent a true / actual event no matter how much I like to believe the idea. However, since others have achieved similar results and hair loss is strongly tied to inflammation, it could real. I would ask that the individual provide some before and after picture to substantiate the claim and show the results to help gauge Follica’s path forward.
On another note, Follica won’t divulge much and I suggest asking David Steinberg as he heads the project and oversees the program and positioned too understand and communicate way beyond Jen’s (receptionist) knowledge. She is told specific data to convey and David has greater knowledge. I have personally written and was answered by Cotsarelis as he only states he will work diligently to achieve this milestone. The trials should be near based on some of the buzz and remember Daphne Zohar quote “A proof of concept study involving 15 to 20 patients (Follica has no shortage of volunteers, as several hundred people sent in e-mails when word of Cotsarelis’s work reached the public) should begin in the next few months. The trial has several phases, however, and Zohar cautions that final data won’t be in for at least a year. So don’t pull your hair out waiting for results.”
A year for several phases of the trial. Hence Mercolas 90% chance of getting his hair back in a year. What is the partial say 50% - 80% which would give almost definite coverage to many people. This I say with concern that people of this forum may jump to conclusions and or read too much into some of the blogs already assuming without the knowledge.. We are in a crucial era and much is being discovered beyond the follicle, meaning that each breakthrough regarding signaling pathways, proteins, etc.. communicate to other organs (i.e follicle) which if you remember Daphne stating much of their work and path for many diseases and conditions begins with the follicle.
Inflammation as I stated earlier is part of hair loss and that is how the cortisone may work. Secondly, Steinberg stated I believe that they are looking at other avenues especially with Fuchs but their concentration is creating new follicles. Fuchs and University Bonn discovery with the G-Receptor and inflammation significance will bring the treatment to another level that may compliment and or be a viable alternative to Follica. As always, we need a Follica Rep to communicate on the board to help clarify and guide much of the knowledge and discussion on this forum.
5/1/08 6:35 am
R,
There are pictures that a member of that forum posted. He is the one that created that post, “free indeed” is his nick I think, and the pictures can be found in that post I sent you. The pictures are on his yahoo mail I think, and he gave the password and all so one can go in and check. There you can see the results.
5/1/08 5:40 pm
D, I can’t open the link, but was this self-procedure done before Cotsarelis’s breakthrough? This would hold greater significance if it occurred before the announcement by Follica. I am still wary of lay-posters bringing evidence to the forum and without having greater knowledge of the individual or procedure (how he actually done it by live video, before/after pics etc..).
I may sound wary at times but this is why we need to ask people why, how and where’s the proof to not let this forum be anbother hair site. I appreciate your support and knowledge concerning this person and I too want the procedure he is doing to be real. It probably is real and I will say that his post and others after trauma achieved the same hair growing results.
However, see the latest news and supporting link to limb and organ regeneration. I have included the article.
‘Pixie dust’ brings scientists closer to growing limbs
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News Online
05-01-08
American researchers claim they have developed a medical powder that allows severed fingers to grow and reform.
They are confident it has the potential to treat a range of conditions including cancer.
Sixty-nine-year-old Lee Spievak, who works in a hobby shop in Ohio, severed his finger in an accident with a toy plane.
Mr Spievak says his fingertip grew back in only four weeks after using the medical powder he calls pixie dust.
He says the powder came from Dr Stephen Badylak, a leading US expert in regenerative medicine.
He is experimenting with cells extracted from pig intestines, dried up and then turned into a powder.
Dr Badylak says putting the powder onto a wound encourages cells to regenerate, which means doctors are one step closer to creating new limbs and organs.
“I do think we will have strategies that will allow us to reconstruct the bones and to promote the growth of functional tissue around those bones, and that is a major step towards eventually doing the entire limb,” he said.
According to Australian doctors, the reason the treatment worked was because the patient’s finger bone and nail remained intact.
“The finger pulp, in fact no bone no muscle or no nail part has been regrown and that is possible,” Sydney’s Concord Hospital’s Dr Peter Maitz said.
Doctors can grow new skin cells but they cannot get the blood vessels in those cells to stay alive.
That is where this new substance might prove invaluable.
See http://www.abc.net.au
5/1/08 7:06 pm
Oh yeah, this guy did this in 2006 sometimes, way before Follica anounced anything. He got the first “needling” treatment when he was in Thailand, by some doctor there, and then he was thrilled with the results and kept on doing it when he returned to U.S.
Go to http://www.yahoo.com and there go to Mail.
As username write “hair_idea1″ and as password “checkitout”. There are the pictures of that guy.
As seen, the density is not good, but that is something Follica hopefully will figure out as I mentioned earlier.
Also, I totaly agree that one should be catious about what people write and claim if they have no proof. But this guy here seems to have done this for real and it seems he got some regrowth there. Many complained about the quality of his pics and he excused the bad quality. And other guys on that post also said they have tried it and they also experienced regrowth.
5/4/08 9:04 pm
Does anyone have any new informaton or updates?
Sorry, don’t want to make this a transplant forum, but I have a question. Does anyone think the Follica patent seems too simple? I mean, can everything we’ve been doing all these years plus dermabrasion really be the cure-all? It just seems entirely too easy.
5/4/08 9:05 pm
Given that we are on this particular board searching for facts only, would David Steinberg mind making another appearance?
5/5/08 1:43 am
With stem cell research playing a role in this treatment, it does give you more hope than all previous hair loss products.
However the time it will take to know if this treatment is successful is dissapointing, With all the drugs FDA approved you would think it would speed the process through.
5/5/08 1:57 am
I suppose the tiny sliver of good news we can take away from all the recent information is that it’s possible to regenerate/create hair without the use of a scalpel… now let’s hope someone makes the concept work on humans.
Incidentally, here’s a link to an older Q&A video interview with Daphne Zohar.
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1127701415&channel=245991542
5/5/08 1:30 pm
As we wrote before, we should not have this as a speculative site, hairloss forums are for that. David does not seem to come to this site anymore so there is no point in writing several posts asking him to make a comment. Instead, send a private mail to him or something and then communicate to us others on this site what you have learned, if you are eager and cannot wait. I am not trying to control this site at all, but I just want it to be kept as scientifical as possible, so that we only communicate real news that have something to do with hair loss and Follica, just as R wrote before.
Also keep in mind that the reason it might be taking so much time is they have to figure out how deep the dermabrasion has to be, how to perform it in a safe way, etc. One probably also has to find a way to monitor the cells in patients for safety, so I guess there are many of these small preliminaries that one must take care of first.
5/5/08 3:05 pm
People,
We truly don’t know the complete path and or time frame, especially the true results that will come to light after the pilot study. This procedure could re-grow hair (full head) in one year or half a head in two years. Daphne hinted multiple stages in one year.
The bottom line is that if people were doing this in Thailand and announced before Follica, then real scientist with proper backing may achieve greater heights in this area. My concern is that why haven’t Thailand doctors brought this sooner if it worked under their control study? Maybe Follica saw something their not saying. Hair loss is a catch 22, many people don’t care and only those suffering will keep track of this breakthrough. As you see today, more people are shaving their heads and the bald market is losing revenue. Shen-Min and other herbal products, especially “ALL SHAMPOOS” are bogus and you will see people eliminating inferior products and procedures. This will guide innovation to reap greater dollars.
See, we need to view this realistically. We don’t know and speculating provides false hope and mis-information. David Steinberg will not communicate more that is allowed and may have caught some heat on the board earlier. We will know in one year and more in two years. I would like this come to light sooner and maybe it will if the pilot study shows remarkable results. The main objective is that we have identified the G-Receptor to control hair growth with pharmaceutical drugs, inflammation pathways to develop drugs and re-grow hair and the Follica technique. Time is all we have and the amount of money (which will be cheaper than HT’s as Cotsarelis stated) to be earned. Dollars and un-met needs guides this process not any one of you concerned on the board. We need Daphne to lose her hair which may help the speed. LOL
5/6/08 3:18 pm
Forum Members,
After speaking with David Steinberg, Follica will not disclose any information to the public beyond the new web page that is currently being developed as a communication medium. David response was stern and communicated that any / all internal information is confidential and that Follica representatives are asked not to divulge information about the trials. I further asked David about Mercola and he stated that he can not answer any questions about the trials. This signaled to me that Mercola may be involved with Follica! My last question related to his expectations about this procedure and application in the market. His response was that he is very “enthusiastic” about the procedure and outcome.
Based on his response, mice DNA closely related to humans and the Mercola comment, as stated in my earlier post, I believe they are in the process or very near to start trials and that confidentiality is extremely important during this phase of the program. Now we wait and see, but this may be the beginning of the end. Again mice DNA (why scientist use mice) are very similar in every aspect and they may be closer to solving ALS. So, as long as scientist keep advancing human biology and signaling pathways, we should see numerous outcomes to future treatments and cures. Like I said in earlier posts, every breakthrough compliments other scientific areas and since dermatology (skin = largest organ of the body) requires many facets to control and sustain its function, will compliment many regenerative capabilities. Again, we wait!
5/7/08 2:22 am
R..Thanks for the update.
And lets hope this treatment really is something to celebrate when the results come out.
5/7/08 2:26 am
Dr Cotsarelis will be speaking at thhe Fifth International Congress of Hair Research (lot’s of other great speakers as well).
Here’s the link
http://www.nahrsmembers.org/home/Portals/0/meetings_support/abstracts_5th_congress/Final_Program_from_Bristol.pdf
5/7/08 4:59 pm
I hope this stuff works … but,
in 3 or 4 years from now … more blogs just like this one will be saying …
“scientists have made new discoveries … blah, blah, blah … the cure for male pattern baldness MAY just be another 5 years away”
Sorry for being negative, but, don’t get your hopes up folks … we’ve been hearing the “it’s just another 5 years away” crap for a decade now!
5/7/08 5:47 pm
Hey SB, I thought this was going to be a forum for positive thinking only. I am 21 and am hoping that I can still enjoy whats left of my youth if there is a cure in five years time. Being a Norwood 4 at 21 is not easy and I am willing to be very optimistic about follica and I think you should do the same
5/7/08 6:15 pm
Steve - the problem’s that most guys have been waiting decades for a cure that was “just around the corner”. Many spent their 20s, 30s, and 40s being taken for a ride.
SB’s right to be skeptical. Just look at this article; Follica gathered 5.5million in funding back in January, but they have yet to submit a single new press release regarding trials or anything for that matter.
I appreciate the need to keep privileged data privileged; however, I’d be more appreciative if David Steinberg could chime in with a scrap or two of data. Perhaps he could tell us the Month they plan to start trials, or the rough size of their phase one cohort.
5/7/08 6:20 pm
Guys,
R wrote what is going on. They are developing a website where they will communicate advances to us all. So why can’t we all just wait for a while, and get more concerned if nothing happens in the next 3-4 months?
5/7/08 8:18 pm
Sorry Steve,
I’m really hoping for this too. I know how you feel - I was probably a NW 4 at 17 when I started receding in highschool.
I’ve had 3 HT’s - starting 5 years ago. I was NW 6 before 1st one.
The best coverage I can achieve (after 1 more HT - and totally depleting my donor) will give 40-50% density on crown, top, and frontal core.
This density is (I hate to say it - BUT..) about the equivalent of a glorified come-over with my hair type!
When I look back on it, I should have just been a “head-shaver” and should have just accepted being bald and moved on.
Although I’m hoping for decent results from my last HT, I’m expecting only a slight improvement.
I pretty much have to finish the process - to try and get rid of the “HT under-construction look”
Honestly, the ONLY thing, besides a toupee, that will give me a truly good-looking head of hair, is Follica’s or ICX’s process.
If I could do it over again, and if I was your age, Steve, I would have just shaved and got buffed in the gym - and forgot about hair.
I’m with you for a cure, for my own sake (I hope it works for guys that have HT’s too).
I didn’t mean to be negative. I just hope it’ll work and all of us can have hair - once and for all.
like R said, it’s a waiting game now.
5/7/08 8:40 pm
I meant to add this into my last post, but it was past 10 minut editing time:
I’m still positive about hoping for decent results from my next (and final) HT. But, realistically I’m expecting only a slight improvement.
I pretty much have to finish the process - to try and get rid of the “HT under-construction look” Honestly, the ONLY thing, besides a toupee, that will give me a truly good-looking head of hair, is Follica’s or ICX’s or Aderan’s process.
If I could do it over again, and if I was your age, Steve, I would have just shaved and got buffed in the gym - and forgot about hair.
I regret the HT’s. I’m not saying their bad for everybody, just some guys (like me) shouldn’t have tried. Now, I have to try and finish the process.
Please, don’t ask who my surgeons are as I won’t reveal them. It’s not their work at all that has caused me any problems. In fact, my surgeons are awesome. I’m totally happy with their work, and they are excellent and highly reputable. They never guaranteed I would have a full head of hair.
I’m the one who had expectations “too high” I should have done more homework on guys like me with NW 6′ before having HT’s.
I’m with you for a cure, for my own sake - as I hope it works for guys that have had HT’s too.
I didn’t mean to be negative. I just hope this cell regeneration therapy process will work and all of us can have hair - once and for all! Sorry for being so long-winded.
Like R said, it’s a waiting game now.
5/8/08 4:38 am
Hey SB, I completely understand. my hair doctor dismisses transplants completely until 25. He thinks I should on my current regime be able to keep my hair for the next five years anyway but I wont consider transplants. Don’t get me worng I was let down my HM so I am not completely taken in my Follica but I don’t think there is anything wrong in just hoping without dismissibng it straight away.
5/8/08 5:33 am
Again, if no one believes in this for at least several years then “Goodbye!” We wont see you for the many years to come. No one has the answers but what breakthrough on hair replicates what we see today in science? This is a new era of biology etc… We can rant all day long but some of the newbies should read all the posts realistically. I and everyone here do not have the answers just information to share. My advice, shave the head and enjoy life. Surgery works for some and nothing is a one size fits all. We should see posts only when new information is available that compliments the progress. Nay-sayers are secure in that past breakthroughs were futile. So it is easy to dispute the announcement. Further more Follica will not say much throughout the year because it is a new system and procedure. Be realistic and or leave the forum and visist the others that blow hot air all day long. Remember that anything connected with Bosley is subject!
5/8/08 5:43 am
We appreciate your comments R, but you don’t have to get preachy. Look what happened to InterCytex lately… people have reason to reserve optimism until they see something tangible (on humans).
5/8/08 11:10 am
I just want to share one thing from my own experience - that’s all. This may sound a little naive and stupid, but this is the mistake I made.
Here it is:
One of the criteria that made me get a HT 5 years ago (and start on the HT track), was that “HM” was just “right around the corner -in the next 5 years”
So, if I wasn’t happy with my HT results, it wouldn’t matter, HM would fix it anyways. I wouldn’t have to live with it for too long.
Big mistake = logical fallacy!
I know this sounds dumb - but now I regret my HT’s - and HM or cell therapy is STILL just “a few years away”
I have read all the posts on here BTW. That’s it. I won’t post anything more unless it’s positively related to Follica.
5/8/08 4:12 pm
First and foremost: My advice is based on “true knowledge and research” beyond psycho babble debates experienced by most practioners!
1. HT’s = Never do it and watch the commercials, each person is under dim lighting. Bosely and associated people are scams. Especially Intercytex!!!!! Never believed their comments or in them!!!!
2. No other vitamin and or drug works! Especially INFORMERCIAL PRODUCTS!
3. If it is on T.V. it is a scam. Guaranteed!
4. Curcumin and Reservatrol w/ Propecia works for most people as they attack the DHT and inflammation problem
5. Shampoos Don’t work
Now, why visit forums if you believe in being disappointed as you have since the beginning of time. Please all members and this is not a joke or stab at you, this is serious!
1. Shave or cut your hair short and once you are used to it, your true personality will follow and so will your love life and etc…You will see that this and any other forum won’t that important to you or the people’s comments.
2. Don’t listen to bogus rumors or talk without true research and facts.
3. This site is based on Follica and the treatment that compliments people who have experienced similar hair growth after “skin disruption” etc…
4. Mercolas staff acknowledged his comment is true and I ask that all of you study him and how careful he is with everything. Basically, he thinks everything is Bull!!! So if he is trying something with a 90% chance of success, than that is good news!
5. Trials take time and don’t allow silence or the lack of media cause concern. Many projects like these are sensitive and people are trying to get the formula / procedure for their gain.
6. Live life and always keep my words handy. Women will love you for you and if they don’t, trust me they are not worth it!!!
7. Science is progressing in lightning speed! Good News!
8. HT’s and other medical attempts are being down graded by people accepting their fate and revenue is dropping for the money hungry product makers. Varicose veins are taking the place of HT’s, so men are saying the hell with it give me something real or nothing. This echo’s to all practioners and scientist and they want to keep money rolling are now realizing a viable treatment or cure is needed.
9. Let’s wait to hear more real answers and don’t assume anymore, please!
10. Never post Intercytex and or forcasted years anymore. They are based on personal beliefs and not facts. I don’t care about past attempts or failures as they represent new knowledge like all innovations we see today. Edison would have quit long ago, yes! Review his failures!!! Keep this forum based on facts only please!
On a side note: Most people interviewed who shave their head do because of the lack of real solutions. They would like their hair back and would sign-up if a real solution was available. They may seem happy, but they want their locks like everyone around them in the world. This represents as scientist and Follica Reps know as un-tapped market of people who will jump on this formula.
5/8/08 4:22 pm
5/9/08 1:03 am
Firstly i would like to say i understand why people are negative whenever a new treatment comes around,
But please stop relating everything that has gone before with the possibilities that stem cell research is bringing about as we speak, It’s like pandoras box has been opened.
This time last year who on this board would believe a man could grow part of his finger back,Like i said stem cell treatments are moving fast and at some point a cure for hair loss will be found, So why not now.
5/9/08 6:30 am
JS, I too hope for this to work and relate the advances in stem cell research as the catalyst for the Follica breathrough. I also believe because made the announcement, The University of Bonn and Elaine Fuchs discoveries area part of the race to end this disease. My comments are from the heart as I feel for each and everyone of you who suffers and are depressed over hair loss. I may sound stern or direct but we have all had sugar coated dialouge that is not welcomed here. I believe we should hear something by the end of summer or first part of fall that announces the trial and progress. Hell, maybe sooner but the end-result should not be available to aroound 2009.
We are in a unique time of discovery and human biology. The breakthroughs and potential drug candidates as well as target G-Receptors are on the horizon as hair loss breakthroughs never seen before. You see for the most part people never cared to trully solve hair loss issues, Today they care and driving the cure to fruition.
5/9/08 11:53 am
Does anybody know if they are using adult or embryonic stem cells?
If it’s embryonic that is needed, gov’t funding won’t be allowed in US. Bush veto. Maybe next US pres. will allow gov’t funding for embryonic. That’s why other countries (Japan, China, Germany, UK)are making greater headway in stem cell research. The US is already years behind these other countries in stem cell research b/c of “prolife” pres. Bush.
5/9/08 3:41 pm
Thanks for all the thoughtful comments and feedback. I would like to provide some perspective regarding our silence.
Even with the best intentions on the part of the bloggers (in various forums), there has been significant misinformation out there and inidviduals drawing conclusions that are not based on fact. When we have responded to inquiries in a measured way, comments have been taken out of context and posted on a number of websites.
Our goals are very much aligned with yours. We are working through the most rigorous clinically driven scientific methods and results will take time. Furthermore, as a private company we need to protect our business and confidential information.
We will not be announcing anything further for a while, nor will any Follica representatives be able to answer any questions by phone. Despite our lack of communication with the public, please be assured that we are absolutely focused on driving this forward.
Thanks again for all of your comments and support.
5/9/08 5:51 pm
I completely respect Daphne for coming on this forum and trying to clear things up. It was something she didn’t have to do, but chose to anyway. I just wish her response was not as cryptic. She said there is “misinformation” but does does not say what is true and what is false. I respect their desire to keep things secretive, but the statement “results will take time” is the scariest message she could send to those who have waited so long already. There is