I’ve come across a lot of posts about Intercytex, and I’ve tried to get an idea of what they are about, but I haven’t been able to find a thread to explains what exactly they are doing. Could someone give me a brief history on them, what their proposed treatment is, and at what stage they are in developing it? Cheers!
Intercytex is currently testing in phase II trial (the phase I has gone well some years ago) the efficacy of the TRC method, in march 2008 they except to release the preliminary phase II data results. After the phase II trial there may be new stages (IIb, IIc etc), and finally a phase III (that could coincide with a small scale commercialization). Actually we know what happened in early of the phase II trial, during 2007, they tested two different method of cells injection*: if I dont wrong, the second method differs from the first because they added a pre-stimulation of the epidermis to the treatment, and this has shown better results in terms of hair count. The percentage of hair count shown by intercytex are very hard to interpret. They said that in the first cohort there was regrowth about 22-55%, in the second, from 13 to 105%, but we dont know exaclty what the percent stand for… number of hair, hair per injection or what else? … the only obvious thing is that there has been an improvement from the first to second cohort. Now we are waiting for march 2008 to know more about the phase II and to understand how long we should wait before the final result…
- the concept of their treatment is:
-taking stem cells from hair in the back (cause these are immune to “dht” -> the reason why we lost hair)
- multiply these cells in 2-3 weeks
- insert cells (micro-injections) immune in the top/front to induct new hair regrowth
We know that in phase I there was a regrowth of about 60 hair per cm2 on the tester. This is a little summary 
sorry for bad eng, I hope u can understand
Intercytex gets shortened to “ICX” on here a lot.
ICX is a small biotech company in England that is working on a method of reviving hair follicles that MPB has killed in the past or is killing now. (It may also create some new follicles, this is not settled yet.)
They take a bit of donor skin (just a centimeter or two, nothing like the size of a strip-HT removal), they separate out the dermal papilla cells, they multiply these cells in a lab for weeks, and then they re-inject them all over your head in the MPB’d areas.
The point is that you’re taking DP cells from a non-balding-susceptible area and giving them to the balding areas. So the balded areas with the new DP cells will take on the genetic MPB characteristics of the donor area (read: no major MPB susceptibility), and the injected areas will grow hair again.
ICX is in phase#2 of the 3 clinical trials. They might sell a few customers some hair during phase#3 (feeling rich/powerful/connected?), but the real commercial market is several years away. Maybe 4-5 years at best.
It’s too early to tell what the results will be. The hairs are reported to be totally normal, and the assumption is that the MPB resistance of the revived hair is more or less a permanent change too. But ICX has strongly cautioned that the early stages of their treatment will be something that works in addition to traditional HT work, rather than a stand-alone thing to bypass traditional HTs with.
There’s a lot of feeling among the researchers that this work will eventually be THE big baldness treatment in coming years, but the early stages probably won’t be nearly so effective as what comes later. (Because of the huge demand, they’re basically rushing this stuff to market as soon as they can do anything to bring back hair at all. Even after it’s on the market they’ll still be improving it for many years to come.)
It will probably be very expensive initially. But ICX has consistenly said they intend this product to eventually be a working man’s option. I’m suspect it’ll still cost in the thousands of dollars, but reasonably comparable to what the current HT industry is charging or less. ICX knows that the market is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH wider if they can hold the price down as much as possible.
» Intercytex is currently testing in phase II trial (the phase I has gone
» well some years ago) the efficacy of the TRC method, in march 2008 they
» except to release the preliminary phase II data results. After the phase
» II trial there may be new stages (IIb, IIc etc), and finally a phase III
» (that could coincide with a small scale commercialization). Actually we
» know what happened in early of the phase II trial, during 2007, they
» tested two different method of cells injection*: if I dont wrong, the
» second method differs from the first because they added a pre-stimulation
» of the epidermis to the treatment, and this has shown better results in
» terms of hair count. The percentage of hair count shown by intercytex are
» very hard to interpret. They said that in the first cohort there was
» regrowth about 22-55%, in the second, from 13 to 105%, but we dont know
» exaclty what the percent stand for… number of hair, hair per injection or
» what else? … the only obvious thing is that there has been an improvement
» from the first to second cohort. Now we are waiting for march 2008 to know
» more about the phase II and to understand how long we should wait before
» the final result…
»
»
» * the concept of their treatment is:
» -taking stem cells from hair in the back (cause these are immune to “dht”
» -> the reason why we lost hair)
» - multiply these cells in 2-3 weeks
» - insert cells (micro-injections) immune in the top/front to induct new
» hair regrowth
»
» We know that in phase I there was a regrowth of about 60 hair per cm2 on
» the tester. This is a little summary
»
» sorry for bad eng, I hope u can understand
Your English is excellent. Thank you for the summary!
» Intercytex gets shortened to “ICX” on here a lot.
»
» ICX is a small biotech company in England that is working on a method of
» reviving hair follicles that MPB has killed in the past or is killing now.
» (It may also create some new follicles, this is not settled yet.)
»
» They take a bit of donor skin (just a centimeter or two, nothing like the
» size of a strip-HT removal), they separate out the dermal papilla cells,
» they multiply these cells in a lab for weeks, and then they re-inject them
» all over your head in the MPB’d areas.
»
» The point is that you’re taking DP cells from a non-balding-susceptible
» area and giving them to the balding areas. So the balded areas with the
» new DP cells will take on the genetic MPB characteristics of the donor
» area (read: no major MPB susceptibility), and the injected areas will
» grow hair again.
»
»
»
» ICX is in phase#2 of the 3 clinical trials. They might sell a few
» customers some hair during phase#3 (feeling rich/powerful/connected?), but
» the real commercial market is several years away. Maybe 4-5 years at best.
»
»
» It’s too early to tell what the results will be. The hairs are reported
» to be totally normal, and the assumption is that the MPB resistance of the
» revived hair is more or less a permanent change too. But ICX has strongly
» cautioned that the early stages of their treatment will be something that
» works in addition to traditional HT work, rather than a stand-alone thing
» to bypass traditional HTs with.
»
»
»
» There’s a lot of feeling among the researchers that this work will
» eventually be THE big baldness treatment in coming years, but the early
» stages probably won’t be nearly so effective as what comes later.
» (Because of the huge demand, they’re basically rushing this stuff to
» market as soon as they can do anything to bring back hair at all. Even
» after it’s on the market they’ll still be improving it for many years to
» come.)
»
» It will probably be very expensive initially. But ICX has consistenly
» said they intend this product to eventually be a working man’s option.
» I’m suspect it’ll still cost in the thousands of dollars, but reasonably
» comparable to what the current HT industry is charging or less. ICX knows
» that the market is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH wider if they can hold the price down
» as much as possible.
That answers all my questions. It sounds very promising. Thank you!
Hey mate,
ICX is one of just a few companies that do real and proper research in hair loss targeting male pattern baldness. Pretty much at this point they are the only real hope for something that could get a nw7 his hair back. It’s important to keep in mind that this is not probable outcome though. So do not count on it. Even them claim that it is most probably going to be just an adition to traditional hair transplants (at least for some not so distant future (2010, 2012 or so).
From what I know about the treatment I do believe it could work quite good especially if you undergo it before fibrosis takes place (that means thickening of thining areas). But what the hell. All I know are the pieces of information that went public during the years. It is possible that it will grow hair even in areas that are shiny bald. In my opinion it’s just not too probable. Let’s hope.
» Hey mate,
»
» ICX is one of just a few companies that do real and proper research in
» hair loss targeting male pattern baldness. Pretty much at this point they
» are the only real hope for something that could get a nw7 his hair back.
» It’s important to keep in mind that this is not probable outcome though.
» So do not count on it. Even them claim that it is most probably going to
» be just an adition to traditional hair transplants (at least for some not
» so distant future (2010, 2012 or so).
»
» From what I know about the treatment I do believe it could work quite good
» especially if you undergo it before fibrosis takes place (that means
» thickening of thining areas). But what the hell. All I know are the pieces
» of information that went public during the years. It is possible that it
» will grow hair even in areas that are shiny bald. In my opinion it’s just
» not too probable. Let’s hope.
So, being a Norwood 2/2.5 (really, diffuse thinning that is not typical Norwood pattern, but about equal to a Norwood 2), is this something I should hope for? Or am I too far along?
» So, being a Norwood 2/2.5 (really, diffuse thinning that is not typical
» Norwood pattern, but about equal to a Norwood 2), is this something I
» should hope for? Or am I too far along?
Men no one can give you answer on that question ?! I know you would like to know but no one can go into future and see.You have to wait at least till mid 2008. Some people here like to make predictions but no one knows! Officialy it should be cure for hairloss.
» So, being a Norwood 2/2.5 (really, diffuse thinning that is not typical
» Norwood pattern, but about equal to a Norwood 2), is this something I
» should hope for? Or am I too far along?
depends on how well HM works initially. they’re supposed to report updates of their progress again sometime in March/April 2008. from there you can make your own assessments as it would be the 1 year mark (i think or maybe 6 month mark) since the test patients first got injected.
initially HM is expected to work best in conjunction with a hair transplant.
I’d recommend to try to save as much as you can using proven treatments (finasteride). This will give you time and time.
You definately are a candidate. On the other hand you should be preparing yourself for the worst (in case it didn’t work out, it has happened so many times before with various other treatments that were promising to cure it and failed).
The important part is acceptance. If you accept the possibility of being bald (and learn how not to give a fuck) you will benefit in both cases. If treatment is available, you will be less anxious and will have more hair at better price. If it does not work, you will live a normal life instead of being depressed and anxious 24/7.
I understand this can be hard. It is even for me.
From the Intercytex website:
"Existing conventional treatments, involving the transplant of whole hairs, represent the only means of regenerating bald or thinning areas. This is a highly costly ($10,000 - $20,000) specialist procedure. Extensive tissue is required, obtained by the removal of a large section of scalp leaving a significant scar at the donor site."
They are obviously describing a strip surgery. Wasn’t Dr. Woods doing minimally invasive hair transplants in the early 90’s? I wonder if they even know very much about state of the art hair transplant surgery?
This should have been figured out 10 years ago. I think Benji or some of the HT doctors could figure this one out in their spare time with a good lab and some cash.
FUE is the newest but that does not automatically mean it’s the best for all cases now. Strip HTs are off the top of the poduim but they’re definitely not obsolete yet. They’re still VERY common and the price & yield are best.