For what it is worth, Shiseido mentioned RCH-01 in their 2015 Annual Report. Nothing we haven't already heard though. Shiseido has not yet started trials.
Shiseido opened the Shiseido Cell-Processing and Expansion Center (SPEC) in May 2014. Located in the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster in Kobe, Japan, the center will be our core research and development facility for commercializing hair regenerative medicine. Targeting the clinical application of regenerative medicine to treat alopecia and thinning hair, Shiseido concluded a technical collaboration agreement in July 2013 with Canadian bioventure company RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. to acquire an exclusive geographic license to use RepliCel Hair-01 (RCH-01) hair regeneration technology in Asia, including Japan. RCH-01 is an autologous cell transplantation technology, in which specific cells isolated from the hair follicles taken from the scalp of a patient are cultured and injected into the balding scalp area, potentially stimulating residing hair follicles and promoting new growth in the balding scalp area. This technology has no risk of immune rejection because it uses the patient’s own cells. We will conduct research and development in the outstanding environment for applied regenerative medicine research in the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster to commercialize this highly safe technology as soon as possible.
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