Hair Loss News

MADISON, Wis. - ProCertus BioPharm, Inc., an oncology-based pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics to protect cancer patients against the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has just received $2.3 Million in funding from investors.

ProCertus will initiate Phase I/II clinical studies to demonstrate proof of concept in humans for its chemo- and radioprotective products, the first of which – DermX – has been developed for the prevention of radiotherapy-induced dermatitis.

ProCertus, based in Madison, Wisconsin, has already established proof of concept in animal models for its product candidates, DermX, ProDermaCel™, and OralX, proprietary pharmaceuticals designed to reduce or eliminate the side effects associated with cancer therapy. ProDermaCel™ will protect cancer patients from chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced alopecia (hair loss), DermX will prevent radiotherapy-induced dermatitis (skin burn), and OralX will protect against chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis.

ProDermaCel™ is formulated as a clear, colorless, odorless liquid that rapidly penetrates the skin, leaving no residue. Animal model experiments (see picture) have shown complete retention of the coat in skin patches treated with ProDermaCel shortly before a systemic cancer therapy treatment.

The company believes this topically applied pharmaceutical will protect normal hair follicle stem cells from chemotherapy and radiation treatments and will therefore prevent the loss of hair (alopecia) suffered by cancer and bone marrow transplant patients undergoing these treatments.

The follicular stem cells, which are responsible for hair growth, have high mitotic rates and divide rapidly and are therefore often damaged or destroyed by chemotherapeutic drugs or radiotherapy.   This is because these cancer-fighting treatments are designed to destroy cells that divide rapidly which is how they eradicate cancer.  Chemotherapy and radiation cannot differentiate between rapidly dividing cells and target any rapidly dividing cells whether they are cancer cells, or hair growing cells inside the hair follicles.

Fortunately the effects are usually not permanent and the hair grows back after a while, however many patients, especially women, are traumatized by their loss of hair, which in many cases can be quite severe.

Two recent “quality of life” studies indicated that out of 72 side effects from cancer therapy, concern about hair loss ranked first-second in both studies.

There are currently no products to prevent or treat this type of hair loss.