If Intercytex Is In Phase II Trials, Why Is Hair Multiplication So Many Years Away?

Hello Dr. Rassman,

Intercytex has completed phase I human trials of their hair multiplication product ICX-TRC. The founder of the company, Dr. Paul Kemp, was one of the phase I trials volunteers. Phase II trials have recently begun in the U.K. and may be expanded to the U.S. sometime during 2007. Although there are always roadblocks that can slow progress, they are working towards phase III trials in late 2007/2008 in both the U.K. and U.S. and then the final FDA review for the 12-18 months following. This timeline would bring us to around 2010.

If they have already completed phase I and have started phase II, why do many in the hair transplant community still think it’s many, many years away until hair multiplication is a reality?

I was at the ISHRS conference in San Diego a week ago and more importantly to your question, I was in attendance for the Intercytex presentation at this event. It was stated that the phase II trials will end in 2008. Intercytex’s presentation, while enthusiastic, did not include any human volunteer examples or mention a specific (near future) time line. Anyone can assume and put a guess to a when and if hair multiplication would be a reality. But, considering that the completion of phase II trials is still two years away, it is virtually impossible to state when/if it would become a reality. There are still many obstacles ahead.