In the near future, full-fledged hair regenerative medicine may be realized.

In Japan, Shiseido and Kyocera are developing their own technologies related to hair regeneration, and are conducting research toward practical application. What exactly are the regenerative medicine technologies that the two manufacturers are researching and developing?

In this article, we will introduce the latest regenerative medicine technologies that are expected to be put to practical use.

Shiseido's Hair Regenerative Medicine

What kind of technology?

The technology developed by Shiseido is transplant therapy, which increases hair by transplanting the patient's own cells collected and cultured into the hair removal area. The cells used for collection and culture are hair bulb root sheath cells, which are so called because they cover the hair bulb where the hair matrix cells are located like a sheath.

Shiseido has focused on the hair-producing ability of hair root sheath cells in the hair bulb and is currently conducting clinical trials for the practical application of cutting-edge treatments.

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In this approach of transplantation, autologous cells (the patient's own cells) are used to regenerate hair, so there is almost no risk of side effects such as allergic reactions.

In addition, since regenerative medicine is a mechanism in which the collected cells are cultured outside the body, there are almost no disadvantages such as "scars from surgery" or "hair roots at the back of the transplanted head do not regenerate" like hair transplantation.

Kyocera's Device Mass Production Technology

Kyocera, in collaboration with RIKEN, is developing "device mass production technology" for use in hair regenerative medicine. This technique is also a transplant therapy using autologous cells.

What is device mass production technology?

The device mass production technology that Kyocera is developing is basically based on the same principle as Shiseido's treatment approach. In other words, autologous cells of healthy hair are collected from the back of the head, cultured outside the body, and transplanted to the thinned area.

One of the major differences between Kyocera and Shiseido is the difference in cells that are removed from the scalp and cultured.

Shiseido cultures cells called hair bulb sheath cells, while Kyocera harvests and cultures dermal papilla cells and epithelial stem cells, which are part of the hair follicle tissue.

The hair follicle is an important tissue that protects the hair follicle and secures the route through which the hair grows. When this hair follicle decreases, the barrier function of the hair is lost, and it is said that hair loss increases. In other words, the point of cultivating hair follicles outside the body to increase hair is the key to device mass production technology.

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By using device mass production technology, a large area of hair loss can be regenerated with a small amount of scalp collection. The scar is smaller than previous hair transplant treatments, and there is no need to worry about taking a lot of time for the procedure. It can be expected to significantly reduce the burden on patients.

When will it be put to practical use? The challenge?

The hair loss treatment technology that Kyocera and Shiseido are developing also has challenges for practical use.

When will it be put to practical use?

Both companies are conducting R&D with the aim of commercializing the technology in 2020. Since advanced development technology is required, it is quite expected that the time for practical application will be extended, but even so, if these treatment technologies are realized in the future, thinning hair treatment technology will also make great progress.

How much does it cost?

Even if it is put to practical use in the near future, it is expected that the cost of the treatment will be high, which may be a major barrier. Currently, it is said that hair transplant treatment, which is effective as a hair removal treatment, costs about 30 ~ 100 million yen.

Since the above two regenerative medicines will naturally become free medical treatment immediately after practical use, it is safe to assume that the amount is likely to be about the same.

Whether regenerative therapy can be generalized is likely to be an issue in the future.

Conclusion

Hair regenerative medicine, which Shiseido and Kyocera are researching, is a transplantation technology that uses autologous cells with a low risk of hair loss, so it is highly accurate and reassuring, and if it can be put to practical use, the treatment of AGA will be greatly advanced. However, it will still take time to put it to practical use, and even if it becomes available in the medical field, it is likely that the high cost will be a bottleneck.