L15 FOLLICULAR CELL IMPLANTATION: THE FIRST HUMAN PHASE I STUDY IN MANCHESTER, UK
Farjo B, Farjo N
Farjo Medical Centre and Intercytex Ltd, Arthur House, Manchester, United Kingdom

Adult dermal papilla cells (DPC) retain the powerful hair inductive capacity acquired during embryonic hair morphogenesis. This inductive capacity is the basis of an emerging cell therapy called Follicular Cell Implantation (FCI) in which DPC taken from a small number of follicles are expanded in culture and then implanted into a bald region of scalp where they induce the formation of many new follicles.
The development of FCI into clinical practice presents unique problems to researchers and physicians. It requires culture methods that preserve the hair inductive capacity and allow significant expansion of DPC number. In addition, it requires the development of implantation methods that ensure reproducibility, efficacy, and an acceptable aesthetic outcome for many hundreds, even thousands of implantations per patient. This presentation details a Phase I study of Intercytex-Trichocyte (ICX-TRC) for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Preliminary results of the study demonstrate that ICX-TRC can be manufactured under GMP conditions to deliver multiple implantations in a patient’s scalp. Preliminary data on product safety and efficacy will be presented.