Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Cyclopentanohydrophenanthrene ring system doai
Patent
1997-03-14
2000-02-01
Spivack, Phyllis G.
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Cyclopentanohydrophenanthrene ring system doai
514177, 514178, 514318, 514328, 514383, 514387, 514766, A61K 31565, A61K 31445, A61K 3141
Patent
active
060203277
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for determining the predisposition to hair loss and to preparations for the regulation of hair growth. These preparations are particularly applicable to the treatment of hair regression on the scalp and baldness and to depilatory agents in mammals, including humans.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Hirsuties and female androgenetic alopecia are common androgen-dependent problems. For example, each year about 200 women with these conditions are referred to the Department of Dermatology in Sheffield; patients are also referred to endocrinologists and gynaecologists. Hair is an important cosmetic asset and although these conditions are not physically disabling they can have a profound adverse affect on the quality of life. Current treatments for hirsuties are, at best, only modestly effective. There is no worthwhile treatment for female androgenetic alopecia and, in most cases, management is limited to ensuring that there is no serious endocrine pathology and prescribing a wig for severely affected patients. Better treatments are needed but their development is hampered by our poor understanding of the basic biology. In particular, we do not understand why androgens stimulate hair growth over most of the skin but inhibit hair growth on the scalp.
Balding is a common alteration in the pattern of scalp hair growth. It affects both men and women although the degree of hair loss is less and tends to occur in a more diffuse pattern in women. Genetic factors are thought to be important and there are racial differences in the prevalence. There is strong evidence that androgen hormones are necessary for the development of balding but the mode of hormone action on the hair follicle is unknown. At present there is no satisfactory treatment. However, the following have some proven benefit;
Minoxidil in about 30% of subjects. Minoxidil is a potassium channel agonist in vascular smooth muscle. A number of other potassium channel agonists have been reported to stimulate hair growth (e.g diazoxide, nicorandil) suggesting that this pharamacological property is relevant to their hypertrichotic effect. However the mechanism of action is unknown.
Cyproterone Acetate (CPA) activity. Several small trials indicate a small positive affect in female hair loss. CPA has to be taken orally and therefore cannot be used in men (whom it would feminize). There are no topical formulations available as far as we know.
Hair Surgery eg. hair transplantation, scalp reduction. applications. Numerous other products have been promoted for the treatment of balding but, other than those listed above, there is no adequate clinical data on the results.
Development of new effective treatments for balding has been limited by our poor understanding of the basic biology, and the absence of suitable animal models for the routine testing of compounds.
Biological Background
Androgen hormones (e.g testosterone) are the major systemic influence on hair growth in man. In most body sites, such as the beard and pubic skin, androgens stimulate hair growth by prolonging the growth phase of the hair cycle (anagen) and increasing follicle size. Hair growth on the scalp does not require androgens but, paradoxically, androgens are necessary for balding on the scalp in genetically predisposed individuals (androgenetic alopecia) where there is a progressive decline in the duration of anagen and in hair follicle size. Men castrated before puberty fail to grow beards and do not go bald. If subsequently treated with testosterone about one third of male castrates will show balding (1). Androgenetic alopecia is also common in women where it usually present as a diffuse hair loss rather than showing the patterning seen in men.
Current thinking is that testosterone is necessary for the development of balding but as only a proportion of men show balding, and there is no difference in circulating testosterone levels between bald and non-bald men, other factors must be needed for hair loss to occur. Until this work wa
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Bio-Scientific Ltd
Spivack Phyllis G.
The Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust
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