Cellmid Ltd’s (ASX:CDY) has had results from its research and development program into high performing FGF5 aptamers published in Scientific Reports, part of the Nature publishing group.
The FGF5 inhibitor aptamers add to the company’s proprietary anti-ageing hair care technologies and underpin Cellmid’s scientific leadership in the field.
This FGF5 aptamer research is conducted in collaboration with the University of Hokkaido, Yokohama National University and the Chiba Institute of Technology.
Patent application
Most recent results have shown that the newly identified aptamer constructs inhibiting FGF5 are highly effective and specific, as shown in FGF5 responsive cell lines.
These findings have been published in Scientific Reports and are subject to a patent application filed by Advangen Inc, Cellmid’s Japanese subsidiary.
The patent application was published on January 14, 2021, and covers their composition as pharmaceutical FGF5 inhibitors for use against hair loss.
Regulator of hair growth
FGF5 is a critical regulator of hair growth, initiating the transition of hair follicles out of growth and into rest and fall.
Cellmid, via its Advangen subsidiaries, markets a number of botanically-based FGF5 inhibiting hair growth products under the évolis®, Jo-Ju® and Lexilis® brands.
Performance of the company’s FGF5 inhibitor technology and brands has previously been demonstrated via two published clinical studies, showing their efficacy against hair loss, and in promoting hair growth.
Cellmid also holds a number of patents around key FGF5 inhibiting monoterpene molecules of plant origin.
Latest research
The latest research demonstrates a significant technological advance into synthetic molecules with high specificity and affinity to the FGF5 protein.
The research program targets the development of novel FGF5 binding RNA aptamers using a SELEX enrichment approach.
The aptamers were optimised for high affinity (Kd 0.118 – 0.7 nM) of binding to FGF5, and high specificity, showing no binding activity with closely related FGF family members or the FGFR1 receptor.
The aptamers were subsequently demonstrated to have biological FGF5 inhibitory activity via assays against an FGF5 responsive cell line.
New product development program
Cellmid, via its Advangen Inc. subsidiary, has been researching novel FGF5 inhibitors, including highly specific aptamers since its acquisition in 2013.
As part of Cellmid’s new product development program, further characterization of these novel FGF5 aptamers continues in Advangen’s Tokyo Laboratories, via in-vitro and ex-vivo experimentation, alongside other programs ultimately directed to the development of novel formulations for hair loss in humans.
