Hair Multiplication (HM) Summary and progress

[Nick4441]

Stem cells and dermal papilla cells have been discovered in hair follicles and some researchers predict research on these follicular cells may lead to successes in treating baldness through hair multiplication, also called hair cloning.[citation needed] This treatment is expected to initially work through harvesting such cells from existing follicles, multiplying them in cultures, and injecting or implanting groups of cells into the scalp. Later treatments may be able to simply signal follicle stem cells to transmit chemical signals to nearby follicle cells which have shrunk during the aging process, which respond to these signals by regenerating and once again making healthy hair.

Unfortunately, this new approach to treating baldness appears to be taking longer than expected. The first products are now expected to hit the market in 2009/2010. However, it remains unclear how effective they are going to be. It has been suggested that only future generations of HM will allow patients to grow as much hair as they want.

HM is being developed by two independent companies: ARI (Aderans Research Institute, a Japanese owned company in the USA) and Intercytex, a company in Manchester (UK).[16] [17]

On October 2006, UK biotechnology firm Intercytex announced they have successfully tested a method of removing hair follicles from the back of the neck, multiplying them and then reimplanting the cells into the scalp. The initial testing resulted in 70% of male patients regrowing hair. This treatment method is expected to be available to the public by 2009 [6][7]. On October 6, 2006, the company was awarded a £1.85 million ($3.63 million) grant by the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Technology Programme to develop an automated manufacturing process for ICX-TRC, Intercytex’s novel hair regeneration therapy. The grant will be used primarily to develop a dedicated robotic system to support the commercial-scale production of dermal papilla (DP) cells, the main cells involved in hair regeneration and the key component of ICX-TRC.

In January 2007, Italian stem-cell researchers say they've come up with a new technique for curing baldness. Pierluigi Santi of a Genoa clinic said stem cells could be used to "multiply" hair roots. He said the clinic would be ready to perform its first hair transplants on priority patients - those who have lost their hair in fires or other accidents - within a few months. After that, he said, "we'll open our doors to paying customers". Santi's approach works by splitting roots and growing new follicles.

In May 2007, U.S. company Follica Inc, announced they have licensed technology from the University of Pennsylvania which can regenerate hair follicles by reawakening genes which were once active only in the embryo stage of human development

 

[michael barry]

These two article claims:

"In January 2007, Italian stem-cell researchers say they've come up with a new technique for curing baldness. Pierluigi Santi of a Genoa clinic said stem cells could be used to "multiply" hair roots. He said the clinic would be ready to perform its first hair transplants on priority patients - those who have lost their hair in fires or other accidents - within a few months. After that, he said, "we'll open our doors to paying customers". Santi's approach works by splitting roots and growing new follicles.

In May 2007, U.S. company Follica Inc, announced they have licensed technology from the University of Pennsylvania which can regenerate hair follicles by reawakening genes which were once active only in the embryo stage of human development"



.........................Both have problems. The Italians have not provided one shred of proof. And its been "a few months". What they are up to sounds much like Coen Gho, who has also not provided proof. A year and a half back, DHI was claiming that they could take one hair out of a three or four hair follicular unit, move it up front, and it would regenerate a three or four hair follicular unit up front and the unit in the back would regenerate the "lost" hair. Well that sounds great, but they provided absolutely no proof whatsoever of it.


Follica's problem is that they are stimulating neo-genesis of new hair UP FRONT, so if the hair has the same genetic characteristics of the hair that used to be there, guess what? You now have more male pattern baldness hair growing, which would seemingly SOON start to miniaturize as its so sensitive to DHT. IT might give one a "second chance" to use treatments like Propecia, minoxidil, and nizoral on them to attempt to keep them however.


ICX and Aderans, by far, are in the "lead" for a real substanitive "cure" for baldness once and for all by simply multiplying cellularly the "donor" follicles for re-implantation as cells to grow into new hairs. The rest of the article was good.

 

[ajax]

Hmm does anyone know how the Folica procedure would work? If its a none sergical procedure then it certainly is a desirable option, although they would definately have to sort out the problems with the hair being none-resistant DHT hair.

It has however been stated that after HM you may still need to take DHT blockers to prevent further hair loss. If that was the case i'd choose the none surgical option any day of the week.

Either way at least it looks like more people are coming forward with possible advances in treating hair loss and that can only be good news for all us sufferers

 

[Stokes]

Very interesting thanks for that

 

[barcafan]

10 years is what i say.

 

[bleachkit]

That was taken from wikipedia, come on you can do better that that.

 

[DaSand]

Yeah, anyone can add anything to Wikipedia.

 

[TAINTED-MEAT]

I actually think that wikipedia is very useful. Sure anyone can add anything to the website, but usually the information is cited. If the information is not cited, it tells you that it is not cited.