Chennai: New hair regrowth formula discovered

CHENNAI: A research conducted by Dr Debraj Shome, eminent facial plastic and cosmetic surgeon and co-founder and director, Debabrata Auro Foundation and Dr Rinki Kapoor,  has shown that certain growth factors can play a key role in hair regrowth. The research results have shown that a recombinant, bioengineered hair formulation containing six growth factors when applied to the scalp skin intradermally reduces hair loss significantly.

In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Dr Shome explained that hormonal changes can be listed as a possible cause of hair fall along with genetic predeposition factors.” In 2007, when we conducted research on mice by injecting chemotherapy drugs around their eyes we found that they lost hair excessively in those select areas. Further studies determined changes in the growth factor concentration in those areas as the reason behind this “, he said. This finding led them to create several formulations containing combinations of different growth factors. Out of these, a formulation containing vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, thymosin ?4, and copper tripeptide-1 was found to be the most effective in reducing hair loss. Named 'QR678', the formulation was tested successfully on 1000 patients after clearing cytotoxicity tests and animal studies.

 “All growth factors used in the formulation are plant-derived and natural. Except for the pain caused by mesotherapy(by which the formulation is spread over/injected onto the scalp), no side effects have been observed in patients until now,” he said.

Intradermal injections of this hair formulation need to be injected into the scalp once every 3 weeks for a total of eight such sessions. The entire treatment could cost up to Rs. 48,000 with each injection amounting to Rs.6,000. These formulations can be stored up to two years in temperatures ranging between 4 C and 25 C.

 “Around 10,000 patients have benefited from this hair regrowth formula,”   said Dr.Shome who plans to launch a branch of his 'Esthetic clinic' at Chennai soon. The clinic already has centres at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Bangalore.

The formulation which secured US patent in the year 2017 has also received Indian patent and FDA approval this year. The research findings have also been published in 'Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy', an internationally acclaimed journal.

“We are now trying to create a more potent, topical version of this formula which can be applied directly, say in the form of a serum, without any clinical supervision,”  added Dr.Shome on his future course of work on the subject.