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UPDATE
ON HAIR CELL THERAPY STUDIES - Dec 12, 2001
According
to a spokesperson from Dr Unger's office, he is currently
involved in conducting phase II human trials with a
small group of patients and is experiencing positive
results. Only current patients of Dr Unger who reside
in Toronto, Canada are eligible to participate in the
trials, and there will be an update on the whole project
in January 2002.
UPDATE
ON HAIR CELL THERAPY STUDIES - July 06, 2001
We
have had numerous calls and emails about the current
status of our studies on Hair Cell Therapy that laymen
refer to as "cloning". As of May 24, 2001,
the forearms of 10 patients had been injected with their
own cultured hair root cells and had no negative side
effects. No hair grew at the sites of injection, but
the purpose was not to grow hair there but rather to
provide an easily seen site for the patient to observe
for possible negative side effects.
In
the mice we studied, the hair that grew was in fact
derived from miniaturized hair similar to the miniaturized
hair seen on the scalp of patients with male pattern
baldness (MPB). These hairs incorporated components
of the cells that were injected and reversed their miniaturization
growing into normal mouse hair that persisted for virtually
the entire life of the mouse. Because there were no
miniaturized hairs where we injected the forearms, "reversal
of miniaturization" was not expected in the 10
patients. We believe that positive results from our
technique will occur only in areas where such miniaturized
hair exists and hence the results we are hoping for
in the scalp. These same 10 patients are now about to
begin injection of their cells into their scalp. They
will be treated over a period of several months and
results in each will only be assessed after several
months. Therefore, nothing should be reportable before
at least six months from now - unless we're very lucky.
On
another matter entirely, at present there is no
opportunity for individuals or companies to invest in
this project. I am constantly being asked if this is
possible but the sponsor of our studies has adequate
financial resources and has thus far not been interested
in having others take part. Please do not contact
this office in that regard.
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Dr
Walter Unger is Toronto-based dermatologist who specializes
in hair transplantation. Dr Unger is also a professor
at the University of Toronto Medical School where he
is currently conducting research on hair cloning.
