Follica takes radical new approach to treating hair loss

Follica, Inc., a small, privately-held Boston pharmaceutical company, is taking a radically new approach to treating hair loss — one that could revolutionize the new push to develop a cure for baldness.

Unlike recent efforts to reverse hair loss by stimulating or transplanting existing hair follicles, Follica is attempting something far more radical: It is attempting to actually stimulate the development of new hair follicles! The company has an exclusive, worldwide license from the University of Pennsylvania to use and commercialize a breakthrough technology for what they call follicle neogenesis. Dr. George Cotsarelis discovered that the physical disruption of the skin, under the appropriate circumstances, can actually lead to the creation of new follicles — and hence, new hair. According to the company’s literature, the capacity of the adult skin to generate new follicles has been observed since the 1950s and 1960s, but due to lack of understanding of the fundamental biology of the follicle, could never be definitively proven.


While other of the new hair loss companies have been struggling in recent months, Follica appears to be enduring — despite the recession and credit crunch. The company recently announced that William D. Ju, M.D. has been appointed as president and chief executive officer of the company, succeeding founding CEO Daphne Zohar, managing partner of PureTech Ventures. Dr. Ju will join existing Board members including Ms. Zohar, Mr. G. Kirk Raab, former CEO, Genentech, president and COO, Abbott and current chairman, Follica, Protalex, and Transcept, Dr. Kevin Bitterman, principal at Polaris Venture Partners, and Mr. Chris Ehrlich, general partner at InterWest Partners.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bill Ju as the CEO of Follica. He brings the ideal blend of dermatology and drug development experience, creativity and leadership skills to Follica in this next exciting phase of development,” Ms. Zohar stated.

The company explains the development of its new technology this way:

Using tools primarily developed in his lab, Dr. Cotsarelis was able to demonstrate hair follicle neogenesis and show enhanced effect through manipulating the key signaling pathways involved in hair follicle formation. Some of these pathways can be manipulated using known drug compounds. Follica is developing the hair follicle neogenesis platform into clinically effective therapies for treating hair loss and for long term or permanent hair removal. Additional pipeline products may apply in acne, skin rejuvenation, and wound healing.