Alopecia - Hair Loss

2006-04-28T04:33:09Z

59.93.65.142:

== Rationale ==
* “Medication for men plagued by hair loss has become a topic of interest in Japan since a drug company began marketing it at the end of last year".
March 5th, 2006 – source[http://stophair.setupmyblog.com/?p=55]

* “An increasing number of companies are apparently turning the Chinese fear of a bald spot into big bucks with some doing so well they are branching out into other countries”
February 16, 2006 – Source[http://stophair.setupmyblog.com/]

== Introduction ==

=== Hair Basics ===
* Hair is a complex and delicate part of the body

* Keeping it healthy and beautiful is a challenge
[[Image:Hairbasics.jpg|thumb|center|500px|Hair Basics]]

=== Reasons for Hair loss === Both men and women lose hair for similar reasons. Hair loss in men is often more dramatic, and follows a specific pattern of loss which has been termed “Male Pattern Baldness” (Androgenetic Alopecia).

'''Main reasons: -'''

* Hormonal effect of androgen

* Reduction of blood circulation around hair follicle

* Deactivation of hair matrix cells

'''Some facts from Japan: -'''

* Market size: ¥ 30 Billion

* Number of products: more than 100

'''(JICST-EPlus - Japanese Science & Technology)'''

[[Image:Facts.jpg|thumb|center|500px|Hair Basics]]

== Goals ==

* Summarize IP activity over the years
* Identify major players
* Conduct patent analysis
a) Composition
b) Nature
c) Action

'''Alopecia occurs, due to'''

* Hormonal effect of androgens
* Reduction of blood circulation around hair follicle
* Deactivation of hair matrix cells

'''And then'''

* Analyze patents pertaining to high sebum activity

== Approach ==

Broad search on hair loss patents.

Patent information sourced through SIP.

Patents selected randomly for analysis.

Treatment composition for causes identified and categorized as follows:

* Anti-androgen
* Minoxidil
* Double action (Anti-androgen + Mindoxidil)
* Hair matrix cells activator
* Sebum production inhibitor

== IP activity over years ==
The graph indicates:

* Number of patents filed every 5 years (except for first 7 years).
* First solution proposed in 1973.
* Filing trend indicates steep rise in activity recently.
[[Image:Activity.jpg|thumb|center|500px|IP Activity]]

=== Major Players ===
* '''Assignees with more than 20 patents to their credit'''
[[Image:players.jpg|thumb|center|700px|IP Activity]]

* '''Assignees with less than 20 patents to their credit'''
[[Image:players1.jpg|thumb|center|700px|IP Activity]]

* '''Active Assignees'''
Assignees currently active with more than 5 patents to their credit during 2000-2005, among them
following are the leaders of 2005-

WARNER with 9 patents,

BRISTOL with 6 and

ABBOTT with 5.

[[Image:Active.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Active Assignees]]

== Anti-androgens ==
* Anti-androgen is a substance that inhibits the biological effects of androgenic hormones
* 5-alpha reductase + Testosterone = Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
* DHT attaches to the Androgen Receptor.
* DHT causes increase in hair loss and gradual miniaturization of the follicle, which eventually dies causing hair loss

[[Image:Andogen1.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Anti-androgen]]

[[Image:Andogen2.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Anti-androgen]]

== Minoxidil ==
* A thick network of tiny veins and arteries line the outer wall of the follicle. Blood comes to the bulb and to the hair via this network
* Minoxidil dilates blood vessels; is also called a “potassium channel opener”
* Minoxidil sulfate (MS) appears to be the active metabolite responsible for hair growth stimulation.

[[Image:minoxidil1.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Monoxidil]]

[[Image:minoxidil2.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Monoxidil]]

== Double action (Anti-androgen + Minoxidil) ==
* Combination of Minoxidil + Anti-androgen (double action) composition for effective treatment of Male-Pattern Baldness

[[Image:Doubleaction1.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Double action]]

[[Image:Doubleaction2.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Double action]]

== Hair matrix cell activator ==
* Stem cells of the hair follicle are gathered in the basal layer of the outer root sheath bulge.
* It is from these cells that matrix cells are formed.
* Growth and differentiation of the matrix cells are under the influence of substances produced by cells of the dermal papilla.

[[Image:Hair matrix.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Hair matrix cell activator ]]

[[Image:Hair matrix1.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Hair matrix cell activator ]]

== Sebum Production Inhibitor ==
* Sebum, a complex mixture of lipid substances, is secreted from sebaceous glands associated with hair follicles.
* The inhibitor blocks the excessive sebum production produces greasy effect on hair and scalp and also responsible for thinning and loosing of hair.

[[Image:Sebum1.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Sebum Production Inhibitor]]

[[Image:Sebum2.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Sebum Production Inhibitor]]

== Composition nature matrix ==

[[Image:Composition.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Composition nature matrix]]

== Focus on different aspects ==

=== Focus on patents ===
[[Image:Focus.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Focus of patents]]

=== Focus on Technology===
[[Image:Technologyfocus.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Technology focus]]

== Distribution on different aspects ==

=== Distribution based on patent types ===
[[Image:Didtribution.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Distribution based on patent types ]]

=== Distribution of key ingredients ===
[[Image:key.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Distribution of key ingredients]]

'''Other attributes of the key ingredients'''
[[Image:Otherattributes.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Attributes of key ingredients]]

=== Distribution based on target diseases ===
[[Image:target.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Distribution based on target diseases]]

=== Key ingredients vs. Target disease/disorder ===
[[Image:key&target.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Key ingredients vs. Target disease]]

=== Target species ===
[[Image:Species.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Target species]]

=== Mode of administration ===
[[Image:Mode.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Mode of administration]]

=== Product type vs. Product form ===
[[Image:prod.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Product type vs. Product form]]

== List of patents ==
[[Image:list.jpg|thumb|center|700px|List of patents]]

=== Distribution of patents based on target diseases ===
[[Image:Distriution.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Distribution of patents based on target diseases]]

=== Distribution of patents based on application ===
[[Image:application.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Distribution of patents based on application]]

== Questions Dolcera Answers ==

'''What’s hot?'''
* What compositions/ approaches are the most promising?
* What can I license?
* Can you map blockbuster products to their patents?

'''Can you save me some time?'''
* What combinations/ compounds have already been tried?
* Is any empirical data available?
* Can you tell me the side effects?

'''Where should I focus my R&D investment?'''
* What are the most promising approaches?
* Where’s the ‘white space’ for me to play in?

'''Any hints for research?'''
* Are there any combinations I could develop?

'''What should I do in this geography?'''
* What are my competitors up to in this geography?
* What are my strengths/ weaknesses here?

'''What’s my competition up to?'''

* What’s my top competitor investing in?
* Are there any loopholes in their patents?
* When are their patents expiring?
* Will a competitor emerge from nowhere and surprise me?
* What are the crowded areas?

'''How do I play defense?'''
* What should my blocking/reactive strategies be?

=== New Combinations based on IP study? ===

Yes, new Combinations can be made with '''natural products''' based on IP study
* Walnut extract containing [[Image:5ar.jpg]] inhibitor (as anti-androgen) and Flavnones (for vasodilation).
* Sophora Flavnones (for vasodilation) in combination with Saw Palmetto berry (as anti-androgen).

'''Note:''' The above combinations are based on limited study and are only possible examples

== IP studies provides ==

=== Technology trends ===
* Use of saw palmetto berry for treating alopecia was first patented in 1996.
* Since then, 144 patents (including family patents) have been filed till 2006.
* Most patents use saw palmetto berry in combination with other products.
[[Image:Technology1.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Technology trends]]

== New opportunities ==
Yes, the IP studies provide new opportunities in the following area.
* Sophora Flavescens contain flavnoids.
* Natural extract Sophora Flavescens cited in LG patent of 2001.
* Research shows fewer than 7 patents based on Sophora Flavescens for hair loss or alopecia.

== Conclusions ==
* Hair loss medication is a very active area of research and intellectual property development.
* One of the most promising areas of development is the area of Anti-androgens.
* The top companies are Merck, L’Oreal and Smithkline.

== Useful links ==
* [http://www.biocarta.com/pathfiles/h_ghPathway.asp Pathways example]
* [http://www.cellsignal.com/category.asp?catalog_name=CellSignal&category_name=MAPK+Signaling Signaling Pathways]

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Alopecia - Hair Loss