Difference between revisions of "Alopecia - Hair Loss"

Revision as of 17:35, 20 May 2006

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 – [1]

"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 – [2]

"There is something in the air, or should we say in the hair, these days. Scientific research into hair loss remedies has never been more active or more exciting." June 7, 2006 - [3]

Alopecia IPMap

Dolcera IPMap for Alopecia

Introduction

Hair Basics

Hair is a complex and delicate part of the body.
Keeping it healthy and beautiful is a challenge.
Hair grows everywhere on the body with the exception of the lips, eyelids, the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Hair is basically a form of skin.
Hair is made up of a protein called keratin.
Each shaft of hair is made of two or three inter-twined layers of keratin which grow from a follicle beneath the skin.
Hair Structure - [4]
Hair Cycle - [5]

Structure of Hair root and Hair bulb

What causes Hair loss?

Decreased growth of the hair
Increased shedding of the hair
Breakage of hairs
Conversion of thick terminal hairs to thin vellus hairs

Survey results from Japan

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

Androgenetic Alopecia

Gradual Onset.
Transition from large, thick, pigmented terminal hairs to thinner, shorter, indeterminate hairs and finally to short, wispy, nonpigmented vellus hairs in the involved areas.
Characterised by a receding hairline and/or hair loss on the top of the head.

Main Causes

Genetic predisposition
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)

Goals

The goal of this report is to:

Summarize IP activity over the years
Identify major players
Conduct patent analysis

a) Composition b) Nature c) Action

And then

Analyze patents pertaining to high sebum activity

Approach

A broad search was conducted on hair loss patents.
Patent information was sourced through SIP.
A set of patents was selected for analysis.

Composition of treatment for causes are 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.

IP Activity over years

Major Players

Assignees with more than 20 patents

Assignees with fewer than 20 patents

Active Assignees

Assignees currently active with more than 5 patents to their credit during 2000-2005.

Warner with 9 patents,
Bristol with 6 and
Abbott with 5.

Active Assignees

Anti-androgens

Anti-androgens are used in hormone therapy.
Anti-androgens are designed to affect the hormones made in the adrenal glands. They don't stop the hormones from being made, but they stop them from having an effect leading to hair loss.

What causes hair loss?

Testosterone is reduced to its active metabolite, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase.
DHT attaches to androgen receptor sites at the hair follicle.
DHT causes gradual miniaturization of the follicle, which eventually results in hair loss.

How do anti-androgens treat hair loss?

Anti-androgens compete with DHT to bind to the androgen receptor.
Upon binding of anti-androgen in place of DHT, follicle miniaturization is lowered and hair loss prevented.

=== Functions of Anti-androgen === Anti-androgen

Functions of Anti-androgen

IP Map for Anti-androgen

Pat/Pub#	Nature	Composition	Composition action
US20060009430 BLOTECH (2004)	Natural extracts	Palmetto berry extract (fatty acids & sterols), Pumpkin seed extract (Vitamins-B, alpha-linolenic acid, amino acids and phytosterols), Quercetin (Flavonoids) and Beta-sitosterol (Rice bran, wheat germ, corn oils and soybeans)	Fatty acids – Inhibit testosterone Sterols - Mechanism of action unknown. Quercetin results in cell growth cycle. Beta-sitosterol reduce inflammation on scalp
US20060009427 WARNER LAMBERT(2004)	Organic compound	New class of 4-cycloalkoxy benzonitrile derivatives and salts	Acts as androgen receptor modulators and blocks formation of DHT.
US20050085467 WARNER LAMBERT(2004)	Organic compound	New class of 6-sulfonamido-quinolin-2-one and 6-sulfonamido-2-oxo-chromene derivatives.	The compounds inhibit, or decrease, activation of androgen receptor by androgens.
US20050118282 APHIOS Corp (2003)	Natural extracts	Supercritical fluid isolate of Saw Palmetto and Sperol (Serenoa repens berry) and their analogs or derivatives.	Modulates androgenic activity by inhibiting 5.alpha.-reductase activity.
US20060009429 Fundacion Pablo Cassara (2003)	Nucleotide	Pharmacologically active oligonucleotides (encompass both DNA and S-DNA bond)	Oligonucleotides inhibit androgen receptor (AR) expression at very low concentrations in skin and hair follicle
US20030007941 PFIZER INC (2001)	Organic compound	Thyromimetic compounds (structurally similar to thyronine) with finasteride, or cyproterone acetate	Activates thyroid hormone receptors in hair follicle which in turn promote elasticisation of follicle walls and hair follicle
US20030073616 N/A (1995)	Peptides/nucleic acid	Bradykinin antagonist (peptide of plasma origin from kininogen precursor-kallikrein)	Inhibit synthesis of bradykinin receptors or compounds by binding to B2 receptor
EP0279010 KAO Corp (1987)	Natural extracts	Walnut extract (leaves/pericarps) with an organic solvent	Blocks formation of DHT

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a "potassium channel opener" that leads to vasodilation.
The drug is available in two forms. Oral minoxidil is used to treat high blood pressure and the topical solution form is used to treat hair loss and baldness.

What causes hair loss?

A thick network of tiny veins and arteries lines the outer wall of the follicle. Blood pumps through the bulb and hair via this network.
DHT accumulates in the hair follicles and roots, constricting the blood supply of oxygen and nutrients to the hair roots; which is also seen to possibly contribute towards hair loss.

How does Minoxidal treat hair loss?

Minoxidal is applied to the scalp topically, where it dilates blood vessels in the scalp and sustains the hair follicles for longer period of time.
Scientists and researchers are not exactly sure of how Minoxidil leads to this effect.
Minoxidil sulfate (MS) appears to be the active metabolite responsible for hair growth stimulation.

=== Functions of Monoxidil === Minoxidil

Functions of Monoxidil

IP Map for Minoxidil

Pat/Pub#	Nature	Composition	Composition action
US20040157856 WARNER LAMBERT(2002)	Organic compound	Benzopyran compounds	Rapidly metabolizes, and causes reduced cardiovascular effects as compared to other known potassium channel openers
US20050053572 LG HOUSEHOLD & HEALTH CARE(2001)	Natural extracts	Sophora flavescens extract (alkaloids & flavonoids, luteolin-7-glucose and cytosine) Hinokitiol (Taiwan hinoki oil, Aomori, Western Red Cedar oil) and Nicotinamide (Vitamin B complex)	Promotes function of cell activity and dilates blood vessels

Double action (Anti-androgen + Minoxidil)

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

What is the problem with using only Anti-androgen therapy?

Anti-androgen is not effective in addressing the issue of vasocontriction around hair follicles due to sebum oil build up.
Anti-androgen only prevent binding of DHT to androgen receptors. However, the effects of improper oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain due to vasocontriction still remains and gradually causes hair loss.

What is the problem with using only Minoxidal therapy?

Minoxidil-based products are generally not effective in stopping hair loss as minoxidil does not block the harmful effects of DHT in the scalp and hair follicles.
Minoxidil simply dilates blood vessels in the scalp. However, the harmful DHT is still being produced in the body and still getting into the scalp and hair follicles and causing eventual hair loss.

How is the combination of Anti-androgens and Minoxidil effective?

Anti-androgens target the problem of DHT binding to androgen receptors and prevents follicle miniaturization.
Minoxidil causes vasodilation and therefore improves supply of oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicle and roots.
Combination therapy therefore proves to be much more effective than individual therapy.

=== Functions of (Anti-androgen + Minoxidil) === Anti-androgen and Minoxidil

Functions of (Anti-androgen + Minoxidil)

IP Map for (Anti-androgen + Minoxidil)

Pat/Pub#	Nature	Composition	Composition action
US20060052405 N/A(2000)	Peptides	Testosterone blocker or vascular toner (Flutamide, cyproterone acetate, spironolactone, progesterone, or analogs or derivatives) and minoxidil mixed along with non-retinoid penetration enhance and sunscreen	Inhibits 5.alpha.-reductase activity (block DHT) and increase blood flow on the scalp
US20050123577 L'OREAL(2000)	Peptides	Prostaglandin (polyunsaturated fatty acids) EP-2, EP-3 EP-4 receptor agonist with Minoxidil, 2,4-diaminopyrimidine 3-oxide, and Aminexil, cyclic AMP	Minoxidil (designed to mimic nitric oxide's effects) grows hair via prostaglandin-H synthase stimulation. EP-3 and EP-4 are expressed in anagen hair follicles which induce a reduction in the level of cAMP
US6447762 COLOMER GROUP(1999)	Natural extract	Hop extract (oil contains terpenes and humulene), Rosemary extract (hydroalcohol), Swertia extract (glycol with a swertiamarin), Silanodiol salicylate (biologically active silicon compound)	Inhibits activity of 5-alpha-reductase, protects follicular cell membranes by neutralizing action of oxidation reaction in tissues, stimulates hair follicles and blood circulation to the hair root, supplies oxygen and nutrients to base of follicle, retains humidity, avoids dehydration of scalp

Hair matrix cell activator

Hair matrix cell activator is a substance that acts at the matrix cells in the hair follicle preventing their degradation.

What causes hair loss?

Stem cells are interspersed within the basal layer of the outer root sheath and in an area called the bulge.
Stem cells migrate to hair matrix where they start to divide and differentiate, under the influence of substances produced by cells of the dermal papilla.
Perifollicular matrix cells undergo slow degradation which prevents follicle stimulation.
Hair follicle activation is required for hair growth and thus inhibition of follicle activation eventually leads to hair loss.

How does hair cell matrix activator treat hair loss?

Hair cell matrix activator slows down and inhibits degradation of the perifollicular matrix.
This leads to an increase in hair follicle matrix cells that differentiate from progenitor stem cells.
Matrix activator allows activation of hair matrix cells and therefore follicle stimulation leading to hair growth.

=== Functions of Hair matrix cell activator === Hair matrix cell activator

Functions of Hair matrix cell activator

IP Map for Hair matrix cell activator

Pat/Pub#	Nature	Composition	Composition action
US20020052498 SHISEIDO(1999)	Organic compound	(2-substituted oxyphenyl) alkanamide derivative and its salt	Mechanism of action has not been made clear, having excellent hair follicle activating action and regrowth promoting effect
US20040071647 L'OREAL(1998)	Peptides	Metalloprotease (MMP-9) inhibitor (thiol or a hydroxamate) other than chelating calcium ions	Reducing the expression of MMPs (Metalloproteases) in the scalp - slow down or inhibit the degradation of the perifollicular matrix (extracellular matrix surround the hair follicle)

Sebum Production Inhibitor

Sebum Production Inhibitor is a substance that prevents the synthesis of sebum, mixture of lipid substances.

What causes hair loss?

Sebum is a fatty acid substance secreted from sebaceous glands associated with hair follicles.
Hair can get heavy sebum build-up and mixes with cholesterol to form a hardened plug around the bottom part of the hair bulb.
Hardened plugs prevent cell respirations and eventually lead to hair loss.
Bacteria will also attach to the hardened plug and this can also cause further cause problems with hair growth.

How does Sebum production inhibitor treat hair loss?

The inhibitor prevents synthesis of sebum and slows down accumulation and mixing of sebum with cholesterol leading to hardened plugs.
Reduction of sebum results in unclogged hair follicles/bulbs and allows oxygen and nutrients from reaching the hair follicle.
Reduction in sebum also prevents vasoconstriction.
Sum result of these effects of Sebum production inhibitor is prevention of hair loss.

The inhibitor blocks the excessive sebum production produces greasy effect on hair and scalp and also responsible for thinning and loosing of hair.

Functions of Sebum Production Inhibitor

[Sebum Production Inhibitor]

Functions of Sebum Production Inhibitor

IP map for Sebum Production Inhibitor

Pat/Pub#	Nature	Composition	Composition action
US20050277699 Unilever(2005)	Natural extract and organic compound	Polyamine (putrescine, spermine or spermidine) analogs and/or derivatives; DFMO; N-acetyl cysteines; neutralized salts of a non-hydroxy C2-C40 dicarboxylic acids, preferably malonate salts; and mixtures thereof.	Decreasing sebum production and/or pore size
US20050244362 KAO COPR.(2004)	Natural extract and organic compound	Avocado oil (Butyl esters of fatty acids)	Reduce sebum of the hair and scalp
US4529587 Unilever(1982)	organic compound	Biotin antagonist or a salt thereof	Decrease activity of the enzyme acetyl-SCoA-carboxylase and hence reduce lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands so that less sebum is produced

Composition nature matrix

IP map for Composition nature matrix

Year	Organic Compound	Natural extracts	Peptides	Nucleotides	Natural extract + Organic comp
2005	....	....	....	....	UNILEVER (1)
2004	WARNER (1)	BLOTECH (1)	....	....	KAO (1)
2003	WARNER (1)	APHIOS (1)	....	FUNDIACION (1)	....
2002	WARNER (1)	....	....	....	....
2001	PFIZER (1)	LG HEALTH-CARE (1)	....	....	....
2000	....	....	L’OREAL (1) / N/A (1)	....	....
1999	SHISEDIO (1)	COLOMER (1)	....	....	....
1998	....	....	L’OREAL (1)	....	....
1995	....	....	N/A (1)	....	....
1987	....	KAO (1)	....	....	....
1982	UNILEVER (1)	....	....	....	....

Focus of patents

Focus of patents	Patent no.	Rec. no.
2-substituted oxyphenyl alkanamide derivative having excellent hair growth effect.	US20020052498	1
Thyromimetic compounds, and its role in treating hair loss	US20030007941	2
Saw Palmetto berry extract, pumpkin seed extract, sitosterol and quercetin for the treatment and prevention of the biologically detrimental effects of DHT	US20060009430	3
4-cycloalkoxy benzonitriles and its use as androgen receptor modulators	US20060009427	4
Supercritical fluid isolate of Saw Palmetto, Sperol for inhibition of 5-.alpha.-reductase activity	US20050118282	5
New class of quinolin-2-ones and chromen-2-ones andtheir use as androgen receptor antagonists	US20050085467	6
Antiandrogen oligonucleotides usable for the treatment of dermatological androgen-related disorders	US20060009429	7
Bradykinin antagonists for stimulating or inducing hair growth and/or arresting hair loss	US20030073616	8
Extract from walnut leaves and/or pericarps as 5 alpha -reductase inhibitor	EP0279010	9
Stimulating hair growth using benzopyrans	US20040157856	10
Sophora flavescens extract, Coicis semen extract, clove extract, etc for promoting hair growth, function of cell activity and dilating peripheral blood vessels.	US20050053572	11
Compositions to prevent or reduce hair loss	US20060052405	12
Prostaglandin EP-3 receptor antagonists for reducing hair loss	US20050123577	13
Synergic effect arising from the interaction of active ingredients, consisting of three plant extracts and a synthetic organosilicic compound for prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth	US6447762	14
Metalloprotease inhibitors to induce and/or stimulate the growth	US20040071647	15
Method of decreasing sebum production and pore size	US20050277699	16
Method for reducing sebum on the hair and skin	US4529587	17

Focus of patents by technology

Technology focus

Distribution of patents

Distribution based on patent types

Distribution of patents by their key ingredients

Distribution of key ingredients

Distribution based on target diseases

Key ingredients vs. Target disease/disorder

Key ingredients vs. Target disease

Target species

Mode of administration

Product type vs. Product form

Distribution of patents based on different aspects

List of patents

Rec. no.	Patent no.	Rec. no.	Patent no.
1	US20020052498	10	US20040157856
2	US20030007941	11	US20050053572
3	US20060009430	12	US20060052405
4	US20060009427	13	US20050123577
5	US20050118282	14	US6447762
6	US20050085467	15	US20040071647
7	US20060009429	16	US20050277699
8	US20030073616	17	US20050244362
9	EP0279010	18	US4529587

Distribution of patents based on target diseases

Target disease/ disorder	Patent no.	Rec. no.
Alopecia areata, alopecia pityrodes or alopecia seborrheica, or androgenic alopecia (i.e. male pattern baldness)	US20020052498	1
Alopecia areata, male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness	US20030007941	2
Androgenic alopecia (i.e. male pattern baldness), prostatic hyperplasia or both.	US20060009430	3
Inappropriate activation of the androgen receptor, acne, oily skin, alopecia	US20060009427	4
Prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic cancer, hirsutism, acne, male pattern baldness, seborrhea, and other diseases related to androgen hyperactivity	US20050118282	5
Alopecia, acne, oily skin, prostrate cancer, hirsutism, and benign prostate hyperplasia	US20050085467	6
Androgen-associated hair loss and androgen-skin related disorders.	US20060009429	7
Androgenetic or androgenic alopecia or androgeno-genetic alopecia	US20030073616	8
Diseases caused by testosterone (male-pattern alopecia)	EP0279010	9
Alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss, hair loss secondary to chemotherapy or radiation treatment, stress-related hair loss, self-induced hair loss, scarring alopecia, and alopecia in non-human mammal	US20040157856	10
Male pattern alopecia	US20050053572	11
Alopecia, androgenic alopecia	US20060052405	12
Hair loss	US20050123577	13
Male pattern alopecia	US6447762	14
Androgenetic, androgenic or androgenogenetic alopecia	US20040071647	15
Curing other scalp related problems	US20050244362	16

Distribution of patents based on application

Interactive Signaling Pathway and linkages

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Alopecia pathways

== Players of Wnt inhibition Pathway ==

Wnt inhibition

Patent no.	Key compound	Players of inhibition
US6664247	Pyrazole compounds	GSK3
US6989385	Pyrazole compounds	GSK3
WO2005012256	Pyrazole compounds	CDK,GSK3
US6974819	Pyrimidine derivative	GSK3
US6743791	Heterocyclic compounds	AKT3, GSK-3, ERK2
US20050277773	Pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives	GSK3
US20040072836	Aza-oxindole derivatives	GSK3, AKT, PKC
EP1477489	Pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives	GSK3
WO0056710	3-(Anilinomethylene) oxindoles	GSK3, AKT, PKC
WO2003011287	Pyrazolon derivatives	GSK3, β-catenin
US6924141	Lithium chloride, Wnt3/4/ 7	β-catenin, GSK3, Wnt
US6706685	Peptide sequence	β-catenin
US6683048	Peptide sequence	α-catenin, β-catenin
US6677116	Peptide sequence LXXLL	β-catenin
US6303576	Peptide sequence LXXLL	β-catenin

- Target sites and Details

Pyrazole compounds

Pyrazole (C3H4N2) refers both to the class of simple aromatic ring organic compounds of the heterocyclic series characterized by a 5-membered ring structure composed of three carbon atoms and two nitrogen atoms in adjacent positions and to the unsubstituted parent compound. Being so composed and having pharmacological effects on humans, they are classified as alkaloids although they are not known to occur in nature.
Pyrazoles are produced synthetically through the reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with hydrazine and subsequent dehydrogenation

Pyrazole (C3H4N2)

Pyrazoles are used for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antiarrhythmic, tranquilizing, muscle relaxing, psychoanaleptic, anticonvulsant, monoamineoxidase inhibiting, antidiabetic and antibacterial activities.
Structurally related compounds are pyrazoline and pyrazolidine.

Structurally related compounds

GSK3 inhibition by pyrazole compounds

US6989385

US6664247

WO2005012256

R1=T-Ring D, wherein

T is a valence bond and Ring D = 5-6 membered aryl or heteroaryl ring;

R2 = hydrogen or C1-4 aliphatic and R2'= hydrogen;

R3 = -R, -OR, or -N(R4)2, wherein R = hydrogen, C1-6 aliphatic, 5-6 membered heterocyclyl, phenyl, or 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and L is -O-, -S-, or -NH-; and Ring D is substituted by up to three substituents selected from -halo, -CN, -NO2, -N(R4)2, optionally substituted C1-6 aliphatic group, -OR, -C(O)R, -CO2R, -CONH(R<4>), -N(R4)COR, -N(R4)CO2R, -SO2N(R4)2, -N(R4)SO2R, -N(R6)COCH2N(R4)2, -N(R6)COCH2CH2N(R4)2, or -N(R6)COCH2CH2CH2N(R4)2, wherein R = hydrogen, C1-6 aliphatic, phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl ring, or 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring

X = R1-A-NR4- or a 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; A is a bond, S02, C=O, NRg(C=O) or O(C=O) wherein Rg is hydrogen or C1-4 hydrocarbyl optionally substituted by hydroxy or C1-4 alkoxy; Y is a bond or an alkylene chain of 1, 2 or 3 carbon atoms in length;

R1 is hydrogen; carbocyclic or heterocyclic group having from 3 to 12 ring members; or C1-8 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from halogen (e.g. fluorine), hydroxy, C1-4 hydrocarbyloxy, amino, mono- or di-C1-4 hydrocarbylamino, and carbocyclic or heterocyclic groups having from 3 to 12 ring members, and wherein 1 or 2 of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may optionally be replaced by an atom or group selected from 0, S, NH, SO, S02;

R2 is hydrogen; halogen; C1-4 alkoxy (e.g. methoxy); or a C1-4 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by halogen (e.g. fluorine), hydroxyl or C1-4 alkoxy (e.g. methoxy); R3 is selected from hydrogen and carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups having from 3 to 12 ring members; and

R4 is hydrogen or a C1-4 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by halogen (e.g. fluorine), hydroxyl or C1-4 alkoxy (e.g. methoxy).

X is a groupR1-A-NR4-or a 5-or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;

A is a bond,SO2, C=O, NRg (C=O) or O(C=O) wherein Rg is hydrogen orC14 hydrocarbyl optionally substituted by hydroxy or C1-4 alkoxy;Y is a bond or an alkylene chain of 1,2 or 3 carbon atoms in length;R'is hydrogen; a carbocyclic or heterocyclic group having from 3 to 12 ring members; or a C1-8 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from halogen (e. g. fluorine), hydroxy, C1-4 hydrocarbyloxy, amino, mono-ordi-Cl 4 hydrocarbylamino, and carbocyclic or heterocyclic groups having from 3 to 12 ring members, and wherein 1 or 2 of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may optionally be replaced by an atom or group selected fromO, S, NH, SO, SO2 ;R2 is hydrogen; halogen;C14 alkoxy (e. g. methoxy); or aC14 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by halogen (e. g. fluorine), hydroxyl orC14 alkoxy (e. g. methoxy);R3 is selected from hydrogen and carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups having from 3 to 12 ring members; andR4 is hydrogen or a C1-4 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by halogen (e. g. fluorine), hydroxyl or C1-4 alkoxy (e. g. methoxy).

GSK3 inhibition by pryazole pyrimidine amine derivatives

Patent Number: US6989385 Applicant: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Title: Pyrazole compounds useful as protein kinase inhibitors Basic Structure: