Hair loss research just got a big boost today, and there’s already a lot going on right now. Its a very exciting time. We recently announced the Kyocera partnership with Riken Technologies to begin testing a new hair loss treatment therapy aimed at increasing follicle counts (not just hair counts). Soon after, we announced the very well-known cosmetics and research company “Shiseido” is to begin a 60-person trial on a new hair loss therapy also based on regenerative medicine known as RCH-01.
Today we received word that yet another company is heading full-steam into the regenerative medicine realm for the treatment of hair loss on a cellular level. Histogen, Inc. is a regenerative medicine company which develops therapies using new technology, utilizing the products of cells grown under simulated embryonic conditions. What this means is that newborn cells are encouraged to naturally produce proteins and growth factors which have been shown to stimulate new hair growth. This is done by stimulating a patient’s own stem cells using these proteins which support stem cell growth and differentiation. That’s a lot of scientific jargon for “Really Cool”.
Today Histogen announced that Pineworld Capital Ltd (an affiliate of Huapont Life Sciences), has made a $6,000,000 private equity investment into the Company to continue development of their therapy known as “Hair Stimulating Complex” (HSC).
If you’re wondering what “Hair Stimulating Complex” is, please make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter (right sidebar) and you’ll be notified after we publish our interview with Dr. Gail Naughton this week. Huapont’s affiliate will be the lead investor in Histogen’s Series D financing round. This funding will be used in part to further Histogen’s research on HSC in the United States, and to start preparations for their long-awaited Initial Public Offering (IPO).
“We are honored that the leading dermatology company in China has recognized the potential of Histogen’s technology,” said Dr. Gail Naughton, Histogen CEO and Chairman of the Board. “We are looking forward to a fruitful relationship, and to having Hayden Zhang as a valuable addition to Histogen’s Board of Directors.”
Huapont will have a right to name one director to the Histogen Board of Directors, and has certain participation rights to invest in future equity financings. Histogen and Huapont intend to enter a license and supply agreement for the development and commercialization of HSC in Mainland China, with terms and conditions to be announced.
Huapont Life Sciences is a China-based company with a current market capitalization of $3 billion. They focus on the research and development of innovative healthcare products, the marketing of pharmaceutical products, and agricultural herbicides. Their products include dermatology, cardiovascular, anti-tuberculosis agents, autoimmune-related products and oncology-related products. They tout current annual revenues of approximately US 1.1 billion, and have approximately 7,100 employees operating throughout Mainland China.
Kevin Rands is the Founder of HairLossTalk.com and President of Online Health Networks, Inc. a Miami based corporation providing consumer health education on the web. He is also the Founder and Principal Writer for DisrupterDaily.com, an online publication on disruption of health and tech sectors.
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