Follicular Delivery of a Novel Peptide Therapeutic for the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia
December 2015
TLDR A new peptide, murikal/SPR4, was found to significantly increase hair growth in mice, and its liposomal topical formulations enhanced hair growth more than commercial products. However, results on human scalp skin were unclear, needing more tests.
Seven years ago, a study was conducted on a novel 4.2-kDa peptide, murikal/SPR4, for the treatment of androgenic alopecia (AGA) and chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). The peptide was found to significantly increase hair growth when injected into mice. Liposomal topical formulations were then developed to enhance follicular delivery of the peptide. These formulations showed a significant enhancement in hair growth rate compared to commercial minoxidil formulations and the peptide alone. Two lead formulations were selected for a month-long stability study, with Formulation 3 showing ideal particle characteristics, particle size (~300 nm), and zeta potential (~70 mV). However, results from applying these formulations to human scalp skin were inconclusive, indicating the need for further testing to demonstrate translatability to human tissues.
