Using MALDI-MSI Analysis to Study Distribution of FOL-005, a Potent, Novel Inhibitor of Human Hair Growth, After Subcutaneous Injection in Mice

Seven years ago, a study was conducted on a newly generated, modified osteopontin-derived peptide, FOL-005, which was found to induce premature hair follicle regression in organ-cultured human male scalp skin. When injected into human male scalp skin transplanted onto mice, FOL-005 significantly decreased the number of hair shafts growing per graft compared to control transplants. It also counteracted the hair growth-promoting effects of minoxidil, a strong hypertrichosis-inducing agent. There was no evidence of FOL-005-induced hair follicle toxicity. Using Multimaging MALDI-MSI technology, FOL-005 was found to be distributed exclusively in the treated skin after injection and its concentration decreased over time. No distribution was detected outside the skin area, indicating that FOL-005 is locally degraded. These findings suggest that FOL-005 could be a potential treatment for excessive hair growth, and no toxicity was revealed in the safety studies conducted.