If Sheseido Decides to Do So
I used to cover Replicel (Canada) and its Japanese cosmetics behemoth partner Shiseido at least a few times per year until last year. At some point, I got skeptical about the RCH-01 hair loss product being released any time soon. Besides typical delays, Replicel and Shiseido had some unclear conflicts regarding their partnership.
However, Replicel announced two important updates this month, the second of which is of most interest to us:
Per the first link, the disagreement regarding the status of the agreement between Shiseido and Replicel remains unresolved. However, it is not the subject to any litigation or arbitration.
The key money quote is from the second link:
“While the Company’s RCH-01 product for hair loss due to androgenic alopecia may be launched in Japan much earlier if Shiseido decides to do so, current planning anticipates the potential for all four products to be on the market in Japan by 2022.”
The implication seems to be that:
- Shisiedo could release the product well before 2022. See my past post on Shiseido’s research in Kobe.
- Even if Shiseido does not release the product earlier, it will quite possibly get released in 2022 in Japan by Replicel. See my past post on Japan’s new laws fast-tracking stem cell therapies and clinical trials.
Another key quote:
“Unlike anywhere else in the world, one well-designed cell therapy trial in Japan, approved by their regulatory authorities, has the potential to lead to product market launch.”
Replicel is clearly focusing on a “First-in-Japan” strategy due the country’s favorable regulatory environment. Shiseido has rights to the Asian market when it comes to RCH-01, but it seems like Replicel can still release the product in Japan in 2022 if Shiseido does not do so?
Hard to make this conclusion for certain without knowing much more about the two companies’ legal contract. In any case, this is a great development.
Further references:
— Shiseido discusses Replicel technology in two videos.
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