KY19382, a novel activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, promotes hair re-growth and hair follicle neogenesis

In 2020, a study was conducted on KY19382, a novel activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, to examine its impact on hair growth and hair follicle neogenesis. The research found that KY19382 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in human and rat dermal papilla cells, increased alkaline phosphatase activity (a hair induction marker), and promoted hair growth in both ex vivo-cultured mouse and rat vibrissa follicles and in vivo in mice. Additionally, it enhanced wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis and hair follicle neogenesis in patch assays. The study concluded that KY19382 could potentially be used to treat hair loss and baldness due to its ability to stimulate hair regrowth and hair follicle neogenesis. However, it should be noted that one of the authors was the CEO of a biotech company that holds a license to develop and use the compounds disclosed in the publication.