Shiseido researches hair regenerative medicine

Shiseido has announced that it is to begin research on products designed to treat alopecia and thinning hair. The Japanese cosmetics giant has concluded a framework agreement on a ¥400m collaboration and transfer contract with Canadian bio-venture company RepliCel Life Sciences Inc., targeting the Asia region with the introduction of RepliCel’s hair regenerative medicine technology, RCH-01.

The company’s core competency is an autologous cell implantation technology in which specific cells (dermal sheath cup cells), isolated from the scalp of a patient, are replicated and injected into the balding scalp in order to rejuvenate damaged hair follicles. Advantages of this technology are said to include long lasting effects, little physical intrusion, lower risk of rejection and application regardless of gender.

Shiseido intends to combine RepliCel’s RCH-01 technology and its own technology with a view to commercialising safe and effective hair regenerative medicine. The market for pattern baldness and thinning hair related goods in Japan is said to be ¥200bn.