RCH-01

Pattern hair loss

In development

RCH-01 is an autologous cell therapy in development for pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). It uses dermal sheath cup (DSC) cells isolated from the patient’s own hair follicles.

Dermal sheath cup cells are located at the base of the hair follicle and are involved in regulating the growth of the hair fibre. In androgenetic alopecia, these cells are affected by the hormone DHT in balding areas of the scalp. Cells at the back of the scalp are not affected in the same way.

For RCH-01, DSC cells are isolated from a small tissue sample taken from the back of the patient’s scalp, expanded in culture, and injected into affected areas of the scalp.

Publications related to RCH-01

Hair shaft Skin surface Dermal sheathNBDS cells Dermal papilla Dermal sheath cupDSC cells
Simplified diagram of a hair follicle. Not to scale.

From hair follicle to injection

  1. Tissue sample

    A small tissue sample is taken from the back of the patient’s scalp.

  2. Isolation

    DSC cells are isolated from hair follicles in the sample.

  3. Expansion

    The cells are expanded in culture.

  4. Injection

    The patient’s own cells are injected into affected areas of the scalp.

RCH-01 video

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