I Predicted a Hair Loss Cure in 2020

Happy New Year everyone! 2020 is finally here and we hope that a hair loss cure is close. It is worth scrolling through my hair loss research around the world post for background information to this post.

Will a Hair Loss Cure Come in 2020?

When I started this blog in 2013, I predicted that a hair loss cure would likely be realized by the end of 2020. At the very least, I predicted that we would have a treatment that prevented any further permanent hair loss. Implying that no-one in future would go bald if they wished not to.

A few years after I made the prediction, Dr. Takashi Tsuji (plus RIKEN and Organ Technologies) from Japan announced that his hair loss cure would be realized by year-end 2020! The latest 2019 update from Dr. Tsuji (who has a stellar reputation as a research scientist and access to major funding) remains encouraging. Albeit a very expensive option in the beginning, even if realized on time.

Others Working on a Hair Loss Treatment

A few other companies (Cassiopea, Follica, Follicum and Samumed) are close to coming out with significantly better hair loss treatments during the 2020-2022 period. Or, at the very least, finishing Phase 3 clinical trials. To date, only Finasteride and Minoxidil have been approved to treat male pattern hair loss by the US FDA. So new treatments for androgenetic alopecia in and of themselves would be a semi-miracle.

A Japanese company named Shiseido could also surprise us (after resolving partnership issues with Canada’s Replicel). In fact I consider cosmetics behemoth Shiseido to be the second best prospect (after Tsuji). The company has access to its own technology as well as to Replicel’s technology. And no problems with fundraising.

Newer entrants I covered last year such as Stemson Therapeutics, TissUse (plus J. Hewitt), Rapunzel (Dr. Angela Christiano), Pelage Pharmaceuticals and Exicure all hold significant potential. However, none of these are likely to come out with a working treatment prior to 2023 in my estimation.

The biggest unexpected bolt from the blue is exosome treatment for hair loss. There was tremendous excitement about this during the second half of 2019. Also of interest in 2020 will be further improvements in: 3D-printed hair via bioprinting; skin printing a la PolarityTE; allogeneic hair transplants; and WNT signaling related treatments.

Even surprising new recent discoveries in areas ranging from: quorum sensing related plucking; to scalp electrocution caps; to senolytics; to cancer research related hair growth findings could all ultimately regrow our hair. In the long-term, CRISPR or other genetic modification related cures for hair loss will probably be a reality.

Disappointments

Aclaris Therapeutics and Histogen have been major disappointments after much hype for years. I largely avoided covering them in 2019 on purpose. Allergan’s Bimatoprost and Setipiprant have also not panned out as expected.

Shaving or Buzzing Your Head

I have mentioned many times in the past that the best solution to hair loss for men is shaving your head. If you can accept that option and finally set yourself free. It is rare for women to go for this drastic measure, but there are always exceptions and trendsetters.

The biggest hair loss news story to start 2020 entails famous US talk show host Ricki Lake buzzing her head. Apparently, she has been suffering from hair loss for 30 years and finally decided to shave it off. CNN, BBC and numerous other major publications covered this story today. Below is Mrs. Lake’s Instagram post detailing her interesting story: