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Beta

Topical Thyroid Hormones for Hair Regrowth

Dermatology

The study tests whether FDA-approved, topically-applied T3 and T4 promote the production of key growth factors, metabolism, and stem cell activities on human scalp skin to treat androgenic alopecia.

Project Team

Ralf Paus
Ralf Paus

Institutions

Cutaneon
Cutaneon
DE

Project Status

Clinical Stage
Preclinical
Patent Status
Patent pending

Funding Opportunity

Opportunity type
Funding requested
$119,000
Funding allocated
$119,000

Background

Past research on two drugs of interest in the thyroid hormone family, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), has shown that both can prolong the anagen phase of the hair follicle cycle or mitigate hair stem cell apoptosis (desirable traits of hair loss treatments). The synthetic versions of T3 and T4, have well-documented pharmacokinetics, as they are both frequently prescribed orally today for hypothyroidism. While T4 is converted intracutaneously into T3 by the deiodinase enzyme, T4’s additional downstream pathways may also play a role in its hair growth effects.

Project Details

The proposed project would be conducted on human scalp skin in 3-D organ culture, building off Paus et. al’s 2008 study on human hair follicles in organ culture. The primary differences between the previous ‘08 and the current study are the organ tested and the application method: the ‘08 study was tested on hair follicles extracted from the scalp through a solution infused into the culture itself, whereas our study would be tested on scalp skin through a topical solution resembling already a potentially practicable application method. In the ‘08 study, T4 increased hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation and prolonged the anagen phase of the hair follicle cycle, while T3 mitigated hair matrix keratinocyte apoptosis. In order to decrease the risk of side effects, both T3 and T4 would be administered in pulse therapy, applied for several consecutive days followed by a prolonged period without administration. -> The study would be conducted over 12 months, and tested on scalp skin samples from three separate human donors. The required funding will cover the first six months of this work, with an option to extend funding. -> Additionally (4-6 months later), we will test other dose regimens for each thyroid hormone, with the range determined by the initial toxicology metrics exhibited by each hormone’s primary doses. -> Finally (after an additional 2-4 months), we would test a combination therapy of T3 and T4, determined by the data generated from monotherapy. Each dose would be administered over a varied number of consecutive days.

Project Timeline

  • Primary Dose Data Collection

    Required Funding$119,000
    Statusongoing
    Duration6 Months

    The first 4-6 months of our projected year-long study will generate our dataset for two topical separate solutions containing our two primary testing doses, 100 pM of T3 (77.69 mcg) and 100 nM of T4 (0.065 mcg). This step requires an additional $25,000 at completion, after which we would test two additional doses and a combination dose, if desired (for an additional $18,750).