Clinical trial starting using Jahoda's method !

[southern]

Sung-Jan Lin

National Taiwan University Hospital

Abstract: This study is to try to maintain cultured dermal papilla cells in spherical structure in vitro before transplanting into dermis in vivo. Also, this study is aimed in clarifying actual mechanism of inducing hair follicle by dermal papilla cells.

Taking a look at their 2012-2013 paper (scalable production..), we can have some insight into why it took them so long to start with the clinical trial. It seems they needed to come up with a "method that can be automated for mass production of human and rat DP spheroids with wide-range controllable size and cell number"

[southern]

2013 - "Scalable production of controllable dermal papilla spheroids (...)"

Study Conclusion

We characterize the effect of hydrophilicity on DP cells by varying ethylene and vinyl alcohol content in polymer substratum. We developed a method for scalable production of controllable DP spheroids from rat and human cells. For DP spheroids from each cell origin, efficiency of HF regeneration is progressively enhanced by encreasing size/cell number in each microtissue. However, the size of regenerated hairs seems to be stochastic and does not correlate with size/cell number in DP spheroids transplanted.

[ytterligare]

So has the study being executed now indeed been planned since 2006 already?

[TravisB]

Study Conclusion

We characterize the effect of hydrophilicity on DP cells by varying ethylene and vinyl alcohol content in polymer substratum. We developed a method for scalable production of controllable DP spheroids from rat and human cells. For DP spheroids from each cell origin, efficiency of HF regeneration is progressively enhanced by encreasing size/cell number in each microtissue. However, the size of regenerated hairs seems to be stochastic and does not correlate with size/cell number in DP spheroids transplanted.

So there's more to the equation than only increasing size and amount of cells translplanted.

Hairs grown randomly, independently from size/amount of cells.

This only complicates the situation, as it means there is some other mystery they have to break.

[ytterligare]

Obviously they have either solved that issue in theory or at least come up with some promising ideas. Why should they suddenly start their trials on 400 humans' scalps without having any new knowledge?

[Atum]

If it works will it still need FDA approval or not? Cause this basically isn't a medication you take, but rather cells from yourself that are cultured and being injected, so no harm done, right?

[southern]

Study Conclusion

We characterize the effect of hydrophilicity on DP cells by varying ethylene and vinyl alcohol content in polymer substratum. We developed a method for scalable production of controllable DP spheroids from rat and human cells. For DP spheroids from each cell origin, efficiency of HF regeneration is progressively enhanced by encreasing size/cell number in each microtissue. However, the size of regenerated hairs seems to be stochastic and does not correlate with size/cell number in DP spheroids transplanted.

It is possible that a remodeling process after DP spheroid transplantation may reshape or resize the DP spheroid during HF regeneration, leading to variation of thickness of regenerated hair. Further work to mantain the integrity of implanted DP spheroid, such as modification of the extracelular matrix or enhancement of the extracellular adhesion, may help to control the size of regenerated HFs.
Also of note is that, in our experiment, we used new born mouse keratinocytes from the trunk for HF induction in hair regeneration assay. The trunk pelage hair from mice is thinner than rat whiskers and human scalp terminal hair. In feathers it has been shown that origin of keratinocytes can affect the final architecture of regenerated follicles. It is possible that in our conditions new born mouse keratinocytes play an instrucitve role in determining the final thickness of hair fibers, and both human and rat DP spheroids regenerate hairs thinner than that of the original follicles where DP cells were derived.
(...)It has been shown that specific morphogen singaling pathways, such as BMP, noggin, Wnts/b-catenin, etc. are able to affect the size of follicles in the developmetnal stage. In combination with the ability to control DP spheroids size reported here, we will be able to test whether we can control the size of regenerated HFs through manipulating this signaling pathways in DP spheroids.

[hellouser]

If it works will it still need FDA approval or not? Cause this basically isn't a medication you take, but rather cells from yourself that are cultured and being injected, so no harm done, right?

If its not FDA approved, it won't make it to USA and will need to go through the FDA's labyrinth and years (decades?) long clinical trials before they approve it.

You're better off by taking your money and spending it in another country; it'll be cheaper, you'll get it faster, despite the cost of a flight you'll still save money and get a small vacation out of it too.

You want change in USA and the FDA? You'll let them know with your wallet, that's where it will hurt them most.

[ytterligare]

damn, I would even travel to Irak and hop over a few landmines if a cure was offered there...

[southern]

It is possible that a remodeling process after DP spheroid transplantation may reshape or resize the DP spheroid during HF regeneration, leading to variation of thickness of regenerated hair. Further work to mantain the integrity of implanted DP spheroid, such as modification of the extracelular matrix or enhancement of the extracellular adhesion, may help to control the size of regenerated HFs.
Also of note is that, in our experiment, we used new born mouse keratinocytes from the trunk for HF induction in hair regeneration assay. The trunk pelage hair from mice is thinner than rat whiskers and human scalp terminal hair. In feathers it has been shown that origin of keratinocytes can affect the final architecture of regenerated follicles. It is possible that in our conditions new born mouse keratinocytes play an instrucitve role in determining the final thickness of hair fibers, and both human and rat DP spheroids regenerate hairs thinner than that of the original follicles where DP cells were derived.
(...)It has been shown that specific morphogen singaling pathways, such as BMP, noggin, Wnts/b-catenin, etc. are able to affect the size of follicles in the developmetnal stage. In combination with the ability to control DP spheroids size reported here, we will be able to test whether we can control the size of regenerated HFs through manipulating this signaling pathways in DP spheroids.

If I remember correctly this study was published in jan-2013. It would be interesting to know if they were able to figure out how to control the hair thickness before starting the current trial.

[hellouser]

damn, I would even travel to Irak and hop over a few landmines if a cure was offered there...

I'd go much further than Iraq and swim through the ganges river to get a real non-nigam cure.

[k3nk3n]

http://news.tvbs.com.tw/entry/132473

I tried to look for more info in chinese but can pretty much find nothing within these 3 years. However, I did find something back from 2009. It was reported on the Taiwanese TV that the fastest the product will be available is at least 10 years from 2009 (I know, that 10 years away crap again). Most importantly, what is very interesting is on the last set of pictures towards the bottom: it's shows a patient before and after pictures in just 15 DAYS!

[hellouser]

it's shows a patient before and after pictures in just 15 DAYS!

This?

[Arashi]

Most importantly, what is very interesting is on the last set of pictures towards the bottom: it's shows a patient before and after pictures in just 15 DAYS!

LOL, that's of course impossible. And I'm sure the Taiwanese researchers didnt post that picture (or claim a success like that in 15 days). If you look up their research, it becomes very fast clear that these guys are the real deal. They're not some Dr Nigams.

[maomao]

Well, I stayed out of this for a while, as you know how paranoid us lot are about our identities. But as it looks promising I'll give up a bit more of my info

So anyway, NTUH is down the road from my house - so if you need someone to go and investigate there, I can do once I get back there next month.