Follicum, the Swedish biotech startup, has an exciting hair loss treatment going through clinical trials. Today we look at their related project aimed at treating diabetes. 

Follicum

The business was established in 2011 in Sweden, 7 years after the founders discovered while conducting research on arteriosclerosis, a modified protein that increased hair growth in mice. 

The early days were a story of the struggle to raise funding and get momentum but progress was steady. In 2013 they got a listing on the Swedish small-cap exchange, Spotlight Stock Market. Since then they have taken their lead product, named FOL-005, through several of the stages necessary if they are to successfully bring a product to market. 

Towards the end of last year, Follicum announced the results of their Phase II clinical trials. Those results were positive and the dramatic cover image for this article was startling evidence of their drug doing its work. FOL-005 can be seen marked red and connecting the cell layers. They are currently seeking a commercial partner to run further tests to improve efficacy.

Diabetes

There is a link between hair loss and diabetes. Hyperglycemia, a known precursor to diabetes, results in vascular impairment that can often lead to hair loss. Which makes hair loss a visible early warning sign of possible early-stage type 2 diabetes. 

Follicum’s success with FOL-005 has seen them go on to leverage some of the other results they noted from their research into peptides. They had noted that their class of peptides improved the ability of some crucial pancreatic cells to protect themselves from attack by the immune system – a feature of type 1 diabetes. They also saw that the same peptides increased insulin production, a combination that saw them enthusiastically preparing a new drug, FOL-014, to improve the options available to the estimated 500 million sufferers worldwide. A ready market for a new treatment with costs to global healthcare estimated at circa $2.5trillion.

Partnering with one of the world’s leading diabetes research groups, Follicum have also joined a consortium of major players in the industry. That elevated, broader view of the industry in which they are operating has seen them distill their proposed offering. FOL-014 is now expected to be offered to address the various, serious, complications that arise from diabetes. By slowing down the advance of the disease they expect to be able to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes, kidney and nerve damage… the list of unpleasant symptoms bought on by the effects of diabetes is a long one. 

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It would seem Follicum have an ongoing battle to raise the funds necessary to take their products through trials, but so far all their results have been delivered on time and, more importantly, on target against predictions. 

Of course, as the trials grow in size the funds required get larger and the risk becomes ever more acute. We sincerely hope that the great results achieved to date provide all the encouragement needed to see both of these important treatments through to license. 

If you would like to read more about Follicum and their work, please click here to see an in-depth analysis on the Bio Stock business site. 

 If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts, simply complete our contact form on this page or click here to find your nearest clinic.

Overview The sound of a baby cooing and gurgling can be like music to your ears. However, there are also days when your little bundle of joy exhibits prolonged episodes of cry-screaming without any apparent reason. It’s perfectly normal for infants to break into a boohoo every now and then, and you can almost always […]

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A research team in Korea have been tracking 126 patients all taking Propecia, with the active ingredient Finasteride, for the last five years. The results were emphatic, we take a closer look.

Finasteride

Finasteride has established itself as one of the principal weapons in the fight against hair loss. Primarily marketed under the brand names Propecia and Proscar it has become the go-to solution for men and women around the world hoping to prevent the advance of male and female pattern hair loss… that inherited, unavoidable, form of hair loss handed down through our genes. 

Originally coming to market as a treatment for prostate enlargement in 1992 the ability to help stave off hair loss, or even to help sprout new hair, was already recognized. Though it would take another five years to gain FDA approval as a hair loss treatment. According to the records, it was the 75th most prescribed drug in the USA during 2016 with an astonishing 10 million prescriptions. 

Adverse Effects

A range of side effects has been identified and attributed to finasteride use. Some fairly benign if unwelcome, apparently 2.8% of men might experience gynecomastia, enlargement of the breasts which can extend to the development of actual breasts in extreme cases. Depression and suicidality have also been reported along with sexual dysfunction… usually temporary but there are reports, unconfirmed by any study, of permanent loss of libido. Studies suggest that there might be problems with loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorder in the first year but that, by years 2-4, there is no discernable difference between the drug and the placebo. 

Propecia has, for many years, carried a warning label which informed of the threat of an elevated risk of high-grade prostate cancer. However, a study we recently reported on has pretty much discounted that concern. You can see that article by clicking here. 

Korean Study

A report on the study results of a team led by Professor Shin Jung-Won from Seoul National University Hospital was recently published in the Japanese Journal of Dermatology. They followed 126 patients, all taking finasteride, over a 5 year period and looked at both efficacy and side effects. 

Possibly the most remarkable statistic to come of the research was that they found 98% of the study group. Using a widely used and recognized tool, the Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA), they declared that 85.7% of patients on the study achieved a score of 1 or higher… showing that they exhibited improvement in both basic and specific types of hair loss. 

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Following on from the report that the threat of high-grade prostate cancer is unsupported by the facts (though the warning label is still there), this comes as fantastic news for the millions of finasteride users… and of course, the millions more who have yet to start taking it. Not least because we are still limited to just the two FDA approved hair loss solutions. 

 If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts, simply complete our contact form on this page or click here to find your nearest clinic.

We recently applauded John Travolta on these pages for finally ditching the hair system and sporting a fantastic, bald look. The worry was that this might be a sign the Hollywood superstar was preparing for life in a slower lane. So just what has he been up to since?

A New Look

John Travolta, after decades of deploying his hair as a powerful weapon, eventually succumbed to the pleading of a close friend and embraced his bald appearance. Being John Travolta it was a spectacular event that caught him unawares. He was quoted as saying it felt like he was “Zoolander,” a reference to Ben Stiller’s globally successful male model character in the film of that name. A simple Instagram post of him on a night out with his daughter, but without the hair system, turned into a viral storm.

Media interest was acute and Travolta found himself providing interviews for desperately interested news agencies from around the world. His message was a positive one, that he was “going for it” and looking forward to a simpler life free of the routine and stress that came with maintaining his appearance under the system. 

28 Days Later

If there was, when it happened, a chance that this was a signifier that Travolta might be ready to scale back on his work that has been blown out of the water in the month or so since. He has been zipping around the States on promotional work for upcoming roles but finding time to take his eight-year-old son to Superbowl. He is currently to be found in Italy where he is the celebrity guest of a small teen music festival in a provincial town where his attendance has gone down a storm… and where the absence of that hair system has barely had a mention. 

It would seem there is absolutely no intention of slowing down. In fact, if Travolta’s comments are anything to go by we can expect to see much, much more of him and his handsome bald head on our screens, big and small, for time to come.

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Great news for bald men everywhere. Like a big name free transfer from a rival team, John Travolta is a huge addition to our ranks, joining Bruce as a senior Hollywood star with a bald head but unquestionable sex appeal. The more that can be done to blur the line the media like to create between those two things the better. 

If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts, simply complete our contact form on this page or click here to find your nearest clinic.

Overview Cupping therapy is an alternative therapeutic technique that is predominantly rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Over the years, cupping therapy has picked up significant traction as a safe and effective form of complete body rejuvenation. More recently, celebrities such as Michael Phelps, Kim Kardashian, and Gwyneth Paltrow have brought cupping back in fashion by […]

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When nine-year-old schoolgjrl, Jenna Gathercole, started to become the victim of bullying because of her hair loss, she fought back in the smartest way. 

Jenna Gathercole

Nine-year-old Jenna, a fourth grader at Viera Charter School in Florida, had become used to having fun made of her. But an incident with a bully who called her a boy struck a chord, and this determined young lady decided to do something about it. “I wanted to let people know what was going on and it’s not my fault and there’s something that they should know about.”

So, during a lunch break at school, Jenna produced a PowerPoint presentation with the aim of doing just that. She had originally been diagnosed at the tender age of just three. Her parents were understandably distraught and searched for something that might help with their daughter’s condition. Eventually, after years of trying and five different approaches involving painful scalp injections, they decided to accept the inevitable. They sat Jenna down and explained that the condition was for life and that they should all learn to accept it and move on. As her Mum said “What we’ve tried to do instead is just teach her, this is who you are and you’re going to have it for your whole life and it’s OK.”

Powerful PowerPoint

Brave Jenna presented her PowerPoint to the entire school as she led an assembly to tell them all about her hair loss. The reaction was wholly positive, triggering a wider discussion on bullying in general and leading to the decision for them to take an anti-bullying pledge. 

It would seem that the notable change in Jenna’s life has been the substitution of bullying for people who want to ask more questions… Is there a cure? Will she go completely bald? What causes an autoimmune condition? 

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Alopecia in young children can be particularly distressing, it was great to see Jenna’s story and the wonderful way she is handling herself. Kids can be cruel, but kids can be educated to better understand how their behavior affects others. 

If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts, simply complete our contact form on this page or click here to find your nearest clinic.

The fava bean, alternatively known as broad bean, is a large, flat, green leguminous vegetable. The earliest record of its cultivation dates back to Old World agriculture prevalent in the Neolithic times, about 6000 years ago, probably in Persia and Egypt. Traces of fava beans have also been unearthed in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, […]

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Ayurvedic medicine has evolved over 3000 years to provide a truly holistic approach to health. We look at the top 5 tips for combating hair loss. 

Ayurveda

Born in India 3000 years ago, Ayurveda takes a holistic approach to medicine and health. Primarily preventative in nature it does also offer a full menu of balms, potions, and ointments for illness and disease. 

It draws on India’s rich abundance of plants, herbs and spices to address problems on an individual basis. Clients are assessed on a range of physical aspects which include seemingly abstract coordinates like height and hair color. While much of western medicine might look down on these old wives tales research has discovered, time and again, that these ancient remedies are based on real science… studies often finding that they are as effective as their modern equivalents.

Ayurvedic Approach to Hair Loss

Practitioners of Ayurveda will tell you that hair loss is due to an imbalance in your “pitta dosha.” So this list of treatments is comprised of several different approaches all aimed at balancing your pitta dosha. The great news is that all of them are available from your own kitchen and easily delivered in the comfort of your own home. You may well already have all the necessary ingredients, if not then a trip to your local supermarket is all that is required… though there is always the internet if your local choice is limited.

1. Diet

Certain foods are credited with bring balance back to your pitta dosha. “Cool and mild foods” are the order of the day. Buttermilk, coconut oil and cinnamon are recommended. Along with fruits like melons and grapes which are credited with keeping hair strong and healthy. 

2. Amla

This potent berry can be eaten as it is. Alternatively, buy amla powder and add two teaspoons to some coconut oil… heat the mixture until the oil turns brown. Allow to cool for two or three minutes before massaging it into the hair and scalp. 

3. Fenugreek Seeds

These are packed with vitamins and folic acid as well as being a source of protein and nicotonic acid. To use, soak the seeds overnight. Grind them into a paste and apply to the roots of your hair. Rinse off with a mild shampoo after twenty minutes. 

4. Curd

Yep. Curd. Stuffed with the proteins that healthy hair follicles require it makes a surprising amount of sense to apply some on your hair and scalp… leave for 15 minutes before shampooing out with a mild product. 

5. Bhingraj Oil

Dependant on where you live, this might be the one you need to find on the internet. But if you take the trouble you will find yourself in possession of the “king of herbs” according to Ayurvedics. 

It simply needs to be heated for 30 seconds till warm and applied directly to the scalp through massage, for about 15 minutes. Leave it in the hair for a further 30 before rinsing out.

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There you have it. The benefit of 3000 years of study delivered straight from your own kitchen. We would recommend any or all of these as sensible additions to your hair scalp care regime.

If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts, simply complete our contact form on this page or click here to find your nearest clinic.

The active ingredient in Propecia, finasteride, was linked to prostate cancer by study in 2003. A new study has done a great deal more than just deny that link. We look closer.

Finasteride

Ironically, finasteride was introduced in the early nineties as a treatment for prostate enlargement and only approved for the treatment of scalp hair loss five years later, in 1997. To this day it remains one of only two FDA approved hair loss products on the market, in 2016 it was the 75th most prescribed drug in the US with over 10 million prescriptions. 

Those prescriptions always came with a warning. Since a study published in 2003 made a link between its use and the occurrence of high-grade prostate cancers, the same study noted that the drug appeared to provide some protection from lower grade versions. No doubt many candidates were put off its use due to a doctor advising them that this was the case. 

New Hope

A new study, just published in the New England Journal of Medicine, sheds new light on the subject. Researchers looked back at the data from a study carried out between 1993 and 1997 on 19000 men, one of the largest prostate cancer studies ever conducted.

The 25% reduction in the risk of developing prostate cancer was confirmed. Much more importantly they were able to eliminate concern about the link to the high-grade cancers. 

An emeritus professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, named Thompson, explained “Those concerns about high-grade disease have not been borne out and so that was the reason why finasteride has not been used for prevention of a quarter of all prostate cancer. You’re talking about 40000 or more men per year.”

The Future for Finasteride

Sadly, as a generic drug, finasteride does not have the weight of a major pharmaceutical company behind it. Which means the studies necessary to prove its value as a preventative treatment are extremely unlikely to be carried out. So it will continue to carry the 2003 health warning on its label. 

That does not mean that doctors will not be able to prescribe it “off label” for patients they believe likely to benefit from that 25% reduction in risk against developing prostate cancer.

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The black cloud of high-grade prostate cancer has always hung heavy over finasteride use. With its removal as a threat, the remaining side-effects can be considered in their own context. 

If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts, simply complete our contact form on this page or click here to find your nearest clinic.

The Black Market group, comprised of surgeons from around the world, have issued a stark warning on the rise of unethical transplant clinics. 

The Black Market 

Against a backdrop of steadily increasing numbers of hair transplant clinics around the world, the Black Market was formed to protect the integrity of their field. It began after the initiative was announced at the recent Los Angeles coming together of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS).

The early signs are that they mean business too. By releasing details of conversations among bona fide surgeons they are highlighting both best practice and some of the real issues surrounding improper practice.  

Bigger Not Better

While the techniques employed were still in their early stages, as a nascent industry hair transplant clinics were places of great integrity. Some of the more basic parts of the process might have been carried out by technicians but the bulk would have been performed by physicians. 

Compare that to today, a couple of decades later, where in some countries machines are even being used to perform the transplant itself. Elsewhere, patients are put on a conveyor belt by clinics treating dozens of people a day, with possibly just one overseeing doctor on call if needed and responsible for the work of many technicians performing the actual treatments. 

Best Practice

Interestingly, as part of the exercise, the ISHRS looked for commonality in the work of leading surgeons. They identified four key areas where there was a clear clinical advantage in the method chosen by all or at least a significant majority.

1 They all used double spin PRP, 2

2 Most used micro needling 

3 Most used ACell

4 Most felt 1-3 sessions optimal, followed by repeat every 1-2 years offered the best outcome for patients.

Blurred Lines

While it might be a relatively easy task, given a certain level of due diligence, to spot a bad clinic in Turkey or Iran, a final note of warning was aimed at poor practice seeping into Western Europe and the US. Here they are seeing pop up clinics featuring some of the less attractive aspects of those bad clinics in less well-regulated environments, particularly high volume establishments with oversight rather than surgery provided by a surgeon. 

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No doubt we will hear much more from the Black Market group. It has certainly been an interesting start from them. 

If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts, simply complete our contact form on this page or click here to find your nearest clinic.

Overview People with green thumbs are united in their hatred for weeds and give these rather undesired visitors a collective thumbs-down. Weeds are essentially unwanted plant growths that crop up out of place where they are not sown intentionally. Despite your best efforts to keep weeds at bay, these pesky, persistent, and pernicious plants grow […]

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Hair loss for men is almost always due to genetics, inherited genes from both parents predisposing the individual to a fate of male pattern hair loss. But it is not the only reason so we offer you a guide on when you need to speak to a doctor.

Male Pattern Hair Loss

The immense complexity of hair growth, with over 200 genes involved in the process and so many interlinked processes in the human body required to make everything run correctly, might make you think it is almost a miracle any of us grow any hair at all. 

The physical manifestation of male pattern hair loss is a little easier to grasp. Usually beginning with a recession at the temples and followed, or accompanied, by thinning hair on the crown. This is followed, either very quickly or with a large gap, by a slow advance until you eventually arrive at a ring of hair connecting your ears that runs around the back of your head.  On closer examination, what you witness is a shrinking of the follicles that produce the hair in the affected area. Until it finally produces no hair at all… it does, however, stay alive and inspire hope that something might be salvaged. Not forever though, the follicles will eventually return to being normal skin. 

Hair Alert

The condition of your hair is a pretty good gauge for your general health, any deficiencies will manifest. That said, your appearance is typically how a doctor will diagnose you as having male pattern baldness. He will expect to see hair missing from the right areas. But he will also be on the lookout for a handful of other indicators that might suggest something else is going on. If the hair is being lost in patches for example, or if a significant amount of hair has suddenly shed, or broken. Also, if the hair loss is accompanied by any other skin disorder, like redness or a rash, but especially if there is pus or pain.

If the doctor has any concerns that the hair loss might be due to a factor other than genetics there are a series of simple tests that can be carried out to identify the culprit… and treat it effectively in most cases. 

When To See The Doctor

If you present with any of the symptoms mentioned you should be making an early appointment. So if you suddenly start breaking hair, or losing lots of hair, especially if it is falling out in unusual places… places other than the temples or top of the crown. If you start losing hair after starting a new medicine. If the hair loss is accompanied by pain, pus, itching, swelling or redness. 

HIS Hair Clinic

The single most important piece of advice is not to panic, but not to delay either. The sooner you start treatment the better… bear in mind that we do not usually notice our own hair loss until it has already considerably advanced.