Follica at it again?!

[noisette]

Yes Bro me too

If you want to keep an eye on their abstract (I try to ask the authors of this study if I can have more details or the full paper who knows )

K. Washenik and Cotsarelis Abstract:
Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and its synthesizing enzyme, PGD2 synthase, are present at higher levels in balding versus non-balding scalp in men with androgenetic alopecia. Our previous observations (Garza, 2012) in a mouse model that PGD2 inhibits hair growth via CRTH2/ PTGDR2, one of two PGD2 receptors, led us to hypothesize that PTGDR2 is the key receptor mediating the hair growth inhibitory activity of PGD2 in human follicles. In this study we tested several pharmacological PTGDR2 antagonists for their anti-PGD2 activity on human hair growth in vitro. We found that PTGDR2 antagonists reversed the growth inhibition mediated by PGD2, in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.01), by reducing PGD2-triggered apoptosis and maintaining keratinocyte proliferation. Topical administration of PGD2 to mice resulted in shortening of the anagen phase and accelerated entry into catagen, while applying a PTGDR2 antagonist to mice extended anagen phase, resulting in longer hair. RNA-Seq analysis on cultured human hair follicles showed decreased expression of hair follicle progenitor cell markers, such as CD34 and K19, in the PGD2 treated group. FACS analysis of mouse skin cells showed decreased Ki67-positive cells in the secondary hair germ population prior to anagen re-entry in PGD2 treated mice (p=0.029). These results suggest that PGD2 suppresses the activation of the secondary germ/ hair progenitor cells. Our findings further underscore the key role of PGD2 in regulating hair growth and indicate that pharmacological antagonism of PTGDR2 may be an effective approach in preventing and/or treating alopecia in patients sensitive to PGD2.

[rdawg]

Will they be showing results/affect on Friday?

[Pentarou]

Anything come of this, or is it yet another dead end?

[matlondon]

any updates on this?

[baldybald]

any updates on this?

No, not really. We have to wait at least till November for the Congress

[allTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

I read a post somewhere on this site that said Follica was talking about a 2018 release but I don't know what that claim was based on.

[Swooping]

I read a post somewhere on this site that said Follica was talking about a 2018 release but I don't know what that claim was based on.

Based on this information which was found by noisette; http://puretechhealth.com/images/inv...T08_CNB-v2.pdf (page 106). We discussed it a bit elsewhere and we think it's probably going to be disruption of the skin through their method with either minoxidil or PGF2a. That being said we'll probably get to know the details as they are going to engage in another trial later this year.

[allTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Based on this information which was found by noisette; http://puretechhealth.com/images/inv...T08_CNB-v2.pdf (page 106). We discussed it a bit elsewhere and we think it's probably going to be disruption of the skin through their method with either minoxidil or PGF2a. That being said we'll probably get to know the details as they are going to engage in another trial later this year.

OK. That's encouraging. And it means that 3 rival companies (Replicel, Histogen and now Follica) have talked about 2018 releases. Would you say that suggests they take each other's claims seriously?

[rdawg]

Just read some of the article, it seems like an incredibly encouraging find.

Not sure if I understood if they will be injecting stem cells after abrasion? Wasn't quite clear on that.

but the idea that they are saying it will create greater than 100 new hairs per cm2 with 1/4th being terminal is groundbreaking!

This is very similar to what desmond was talking about with follica a few years ago, how they had a product that works well but isn't the full cure.

Follica clearly sees an opening in the market and understands a full cure is still a fair amount of time away, bringing this to the table in less than 2 years from now would be amazing!

[rdawg]

late 2017 is a possibility in the USA guys!!

some interesting points from the article:

"Follica’s three clinical studies of patients with androgenetic alopecia demonstrated hair growth
through target area hair count and/or hair follicle neogenesis through biopsy following TCP. Follica
views TCP as a foundational technique which could potentially be enhanced through the addition of
drugs. One of the three studies was a two arm study in which one arm received TCP plus placebo and
the other arm received TCP plus a drug which was being used in an exploratory manner to see if it
could enhance TCP. Both arms showed a statistically significant increase in hair growth
(a combination of vellus and terminal hair), but TCP enhanced hair growth to the same degree with or
without that particular drug, and therefore the study did not meet its primary endpoint. This resulted
in an impairment loss for PureTech with respect to its holding in Follica. PureTech subsequently led a
recapitalisation of Follica in 2013 pursuant to which PureTech gained control of Follica and also
obtained future royalties on net product sales."

"The appropriate category of product (medical device, drug or biologic) is determined by the primary mode
of action of the product. Follica’s lead product candidate operates primarily by its TCP device. Drugs
already in receipt of FDA approval will be used in conjunction with Follica’s TCP device without change to
their route of delivery or indication. Therefore, Follica’s lead product candidate is anticipated to be
regulated as a medical device.
Assuming a successful read-out of its next clinical study (i.e. after demonstrating that Follica’s lead product
candidate can stimulate cosmetically significant hair growth through TCP and at-home application of an
approved drug) Follica expects to seek regulatory approval in the US in late 2017."

The key to a quick release? This will be modelled as a medical device used in conjunction with other drugs(i.e Minoxidil or possibily bimatoprost).