Follica’s promise – Hair loss, wounds and degenerative skin disorders may all be treatable using the regenerative capacity of stem cells

For the first time, normal adult mammals can now generate completely new hair follicles. This has become possible because of the accredited technology provided to Follica Inc. by the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine. The paper, with the complete details of the experiment, has been published in the May 17th issue of the scientific journal Nature.

Dr. George Cotsarelis, paper’s lead author, co-founder and scientific advisory board member of Follica, and his colleagues have studied the healing of the wound on a molecular level. In addition, they have come up with the fact that the skin has the facility to regress to a more primitive or “embryonic” stage when the stem cells migrate to the affected area where they are able to get into a generative mode not previously seen in adult humans.

In addition, the investigators could control the regenerative response as well as the degree of new hair follicle formation. This was done by manipulating genetic pathways during this “embryonic window” when new hair follicles were said to form. The formation of new hair follicles functioned normally, had the normal hair growth cycles and demonstrated normal genetic make-up, including a full compliment of stem cells. Cotsarelis and his colleagues together revealed that the introduction of this primitive state triggered corresponding embryonic molecular pathways divergent from those active in corresponding cells in adult skin. As a result, previously unthought-of treatment options were heralded that could have therapeutic benefit in normal adult skin

Consequently, we can safely conclude that the “embryonic window” provides us an opportunity to develop innovative disease treatments that act in entirely newer ways, said the PureTech Ventures founding managing partner and Follica CEO, Daphne Zohar. The clinical version of this technique entails straightforward, safe dermatological procedures. In addition, studies are being carried out on the impact of multiple drugs and drug-like compounds on this regenerative response as preclinical testing goes into advance mode.

Dr. Vera Price, co-founder of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, director of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Hair Research Center and a founding scientific advisory board member of Follica Inc., opined that this exceptionally exhilarating finding shows promise for treatment of follicular disorders such as hair loss and unwanted excess hair.

Dr. Rox Anderson, Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and founding chairman of Follica’s scientific advisory board, has reiterated that the hair follicle is a well-designed structure that plays many different roles for the human skin, aside from growing hair. Furthermore, he explained that George Cotsarelis’ insights into follicular biology could provide new strategies for preventing and treating various skin and hair disorders.

Follica wholly licensed the technology from The University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine, the foundation of an ongoing development program.

For the first time, normal adult mammals can now generate completely new hair follicles. This has become possible because of the accredited technology provided to Follica Inc. by the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine. The paper, with the complete details of the experiment, has been published in the May 17th issue of the scientific journal Nature.

Dr. George Cotsarelis, paper’s lead author, co-founder and scientific advisory board member of Follica, and his colleagues have studied the healing of the wound on a molecular level. In addition, they have come up with the fact that the skin has the facility to regress to a more primitive or “embryonic” stage when the stem cells migrate to the affected area where they are able to get into a generative mode not previously seen in adult humans.

In addition, the investigators could control the regenerative response as well as the degree of new hair follicle formation. This was done by manipulating genetic pathways during this “embryonic window” when new hair follicles were said to form. The formation of new hair follicles functioned normally, had the normal hair growth cycles and demonstrated normal genetic make-up, including a full compliment of stem cells. Cotsarelis and his colleagues together revealed that the introduction of this primitive state triggered corresponding embryonic molecular pathways divergent from those active in corresponding cells in adult skin. As a result, previously unthought-of treatment options were heralded that could have therapeutic benefit in normal adult skin

Consequently, we can safely conclude that the “embryonic window” provides us an opportunity to develop innovative disease treatments that act in entirely newer ways, said the PureTech Ventures founding managing partner and Follica CEO, Daphne Zohar. The clinical version of this technique entails straightforward, safe dermatological procedures. In addition, studies are being carried out on the impact of multiple drugs and drug-like compounds on this regenerative response as preclinical testing goes into advance mode.

Dr. Vera Price, co-founder of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, director of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Hair Research Center and a founding scientific advisory board member of Follica Inc., opined that this exceptionally exhilarating finding shows promise for treatment of follicular disorders such as hair loss and unwanted excess hair.

Dr. Rox Anderson, Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and founding chairman of Follica’s scientific advisory board, has reiterated that the hair follicle is a well-designed structure that plays many different roles for the human skin, aside from growing hair. Furthermore, he explained that George Cotsarelis’ insights into follicular biology could provide new strategies for preventing and treating various skin and hair disorders.

Follica wholly licensed the technology from The University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine, the foundation of an ongoing development program.