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Great, relevant question. This is why we are here. From Dr. Hsu:
This is an astute question! Maimonides is credited with the following teaching that I use to help my students not be afraid of not knowing the answer: "Teach thy tongue to say I do not know, and thou shalt progress." All scientific investigation begins with "Why..." or "How...," which implies "I do not know." It is also the inspiration to answer those questions.
I don't know if it is an accurate statement that there is a "universal type of initial shedding common to all good therapies." What current therapies are considered to be "good?"
We won't know with certainty how pulse stimulation will affect "semi-terminal follicles" that will eventually lose the ability to grow a hair shaft as they transition to telogen. Perhaps with enough longitudinal follow-up data on those on Follicept, the answer will reveal itself.
In the mouse study by Li et al 2014, a synchronized telogen was induced by application of a depilatory (well known property) in an 18-day study. "Semi-terminal follicles" in those with AGA in the thinning stage represent a population that are undergoing progressively shortened anagen that will eventually regress to telogen. However, they are not synchronized. Follicept may induce a new cycle of prolonged anagen in the population of "semi-terminal" follicles that are soonest to reach telogen marked by imminent hair loss.
I cannot offer as satisfying a conjecture regarding the effect of Follicept on other asynchronous follicle populations representing the continuum of increasingly shorter anagen cycles in the natural history of AGA. However, it makes sense that intermittent "pulse stimulation" cycles with intervening periods without Follicept application may be the most beneficial regimen for those with earlier stage AGA and thinning hair. The Follicept-free interval may be different for different men, but a regimen employing alternating cycles of on/off use would be a reasonable starting point. In this sense, each user will be an investigator studying his/her own pattern of optimal response to Follicept, adjusting the regimen in an iterative manner to achieve maximum benefit.
Women with AGA have a characteristic pattern of thinning hair loss that may achieve the greatest response from such an intermittent and alternating cycle regimen. Since we plan on doing a second, possibly overlapping clinical trial for women, the study design will specifically address the most effective regimen for Follicept pulse stimulation.
I have age-related thinning that is very gradual, but cumulative. A small bald spot has appeared at the vertex. I will be one of the early subjects who will start Follicept next Monday (April 27, 2015). We're all excited here at Prometheon. Hang on folks. The fireworks are about to be lit!
This is an astute question! Maimonides is credited with the following teaching that I use to help my students not be afraid of not knowing the answer: "Teach thy tongue to say I do not know, and thou shalt progress." All scientific investigation begins with "Why..." or "How...," which implies "I do not know." It is also the inspiration to answer those questions.
I don't know if it is an accurate statement that there is a "universal type of initial shedding common to all good therapies." What current therapies are considered to be "good?"
We won't know with certainty how pulse stimulation will affect "semi-terminal follicles" that will eventually lose the ability to grow a hair shaft as they transition to telogen. Perhaps with enough longitudinal follow-up data on those on Follicept, the answer will reveal itself.
In the mouse study by Li et al 2014, a synchronized telogen was induced by application of a depilatory (well known property) in an 18-day study. "Semi-terminal follicles" in those with AGA in the thinning stage represent a population that are undergoing progressively shortened anagen that will eventually regress to telogen. However, they are not synchronized. Follicept may induce a new cycle of prolonged anagen in the population of "semi-terminal" follicles that are soonest to reach telogen marked by imminent hair loss.
I cannot offer as satisfying a conjecture regarding the effect of Follicept on other asynchronous follicle populations representing the continuum of increasingly shorter anagen cycles in the natural history of AGA. However, it makes sense that intermittent "pulse stimulation" cycles with intervening periods without Follicept application may be the most beneficial regimen for those with earlier stage AGA and thinning hair. The Follicept-free interval may be different for different men, but a regimen employing alternating cycles of on/off use would be a reasonable starting point. In this sense, each user will be an investigator studying his/her own pattern of optimal response to Follicept, adjusting the regimen in an iterative manner to achieve maximum benefit.
Women with AGA have a characteristic pattern of thinning hair loss that may achieve the greatest response from such an intermittent and alternating cycle regimen. Since we plan on doing a second, possibly overlapping clinical trial for women, the study design will specifically address the most effective regimen for Follicept pulse stimulation.
I have age-related thinning that is very gradual, but cumulative. A small bald spot has appeared at the vertex. I will be one of the early subjects who will start Follicept next Monday (April 27, 2015). We're all excited here at Prometheon. Hang on folks. The fireworks are about to be lit!
And that it will be published in peer review scientific journals, right? 
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