Novel Treatment Option of Hair Loss

Reference Number TO 16-00001

Challenge
Hair loss is a common occurrence in humans and has a variety of causes – some of genetic nature, others provoked by external factors. Hair loss generally has a strong impact on the psychological condition of the person affected. Hypotrichosis simplex (HS) is a special form of alopecia causing almost complete loss of scalp hair, with onset in childhood. Although HS is a rare condition, findings in this field have the potential to help understand new mechanisms in numerous types of alopecia and to develop new treatment options. As currently available therapies are unsatisfactory, the demand for novel treatment strategies is high. 

Technology
The technology relates to the G protein-coupled receptor P2Y5 as being essential for and specific to the maintenance of human hair growth. In HS-families from Saudi-Arabia truncating mutations have been identified. While the P2Y5-ligand LPA elicits receptor response in cells expressing wild type P2Y5, it fails to do so in cells expressing truncated P2Y5 protein. The receptor P2Y5 seems to mediate the stimulatory effect of LPA on hair growth.
The invention provides new opportunities for the treatment and/or prevention of all kinds of hair-loss
 

Commercial Opportunity
In-licensing or cooperation opportunity for the development of therapeutics in the field of alopecia.

Patent Situation
A European patent application is pending.

Further Reading
Pasternack et al. (2008) G protein-coupled receptor P2Y5 and its ligand LPA are involved in maintenance of human hair growth. Nature Genetics (Epub ahead of print)

http://www.uni-bonn.de/en/News/108_2008.html

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Kontakt: 

Dr. Anja Zimmermann

Technology Manager

Ascenion GmbH

T: +49 (0)89 318814-13

F: +49 (0)89 318814-20

E:zimmermann@ascenion.de