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[16]
- “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[17]
Introduction
Hair Basics
- Hair is a complex and delicate part of the body
- Keeping it healthy and beautiful is a challenge
=== 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)
Goals
To…
- Summarize IP activity over the years
- Identify major players
- Conduct patent analysis
a)Composition b) Nature
c) Action
… pertaining to Alopecia, due to
- Hormonal effect of androgens
- Reduction of blood circulation around hair follicle
- Deactivation of hair matrix cells
Plus: Analyze patents pertaining to high sebum activity