Sun Yat-sen University to Transfer Artificial Hair Follicle Patent for RMB 98,500 to Shenzhen Ruijian Biotech

Recently, Sun Yat-sen University released a public notice on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, indicating that the university intends to transfer a“Invention Patent for Artificial Hair Follicles, Their Preparation Methods, and Applications”Transfer of ownership to Shenzhen Ruijian Biotechnology Co., Ltd.The amount is RMB 98,500.

The inventor of the patented technology is Sun Yat-sen University.Professor Wang Xusheng's Team, the core team members are Wu Yaojiong, Mu Lisha, and Cao Nan. The team has achieved significant breakthroughs in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

As an interdisciplinary innovation team, it has successfully integrated cutting-edge fields such as tissue engineering, stem cell regeneration, metabolic regulation, and immunology, breakthroughs in the construction technology of artificial hair follicles, achieving a critical step from basic research to patent outcomes and industrial translation.

The assignee of this patented technology, Shenzhen Ruijian Biotechnology Co., Ltd., is a biotech company specializing in the research and development of regenerative medicine and advanced therapeutic products. Founded and led by Wang Xusheng, the inventor of this technology, the company aims to promote the clinical translation and industrialization of cutting-edge tissue engineering technologies, such as artificial hair follicles, and is committed to providing revolutionary treatment options for individuals suffering from hair loss worldwide.

This invention successfully constructs artificial hair follicles, providing a novel, root-cause regenerative medicine solution for the treatment of hair loss conditions such as androgenetic alopecia, and demonstrating broad prospects for clinical application.

Hair thinning caused by hair loss has become a sub-health issue troubling modern men (including some women). Although it does not directly threaten physical health, it can severely affect an individual’s psychological state and significantly reduce quality of life. According to incomplete statistics, there are currently in ChinaOver 200 millionPeople experience varying degrees of hair loss, and this population worldwideExceeded 1 billion.

Pathological hair loss, such as male pattern baldness, results from hair follicles remaining in the telogen phase for prolonged periods and failing to re-enter the anagen (growth) phase. Currently, there are few clinically approved therapeutic agents, and they are effective only in a minority of patients. Minoxidil and finasteride are the two most widely used medications; however, they require long-term administration, are associated with adverse effects, and offer limited efficacy in preventing hair loss.

Stem cells are the primordial source of human tissue cells, possessing the capacity for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. They are classified into adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells based on their origin. Adult stem cells are present in tissues such as bone marrow, pancreas, and nervous system. In 2006, Kyoto University in JapanShinya Yamanaka Research TeamReprogramming mouse fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) by introducing the four transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4. These iPS cells resemble embryonic stem cells in morphology, proliferative capacity, and surface markers, and are capable of differentiating into cell types derived from all three germ layers. This breakthrough has opened new avenues for applications in regenerative medicine.

Since the 1990s, hair transplantation techniques have continuously evolved.Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) has become the mainstream method., individual follicular units are harvested from the donor area using manual or robotic devices. Compared with traditional elliptical scalp excision, FUE leaves no linear scar, making it particularly suitable for individuals who prefer short hairstyles. However, FUE still has limitations: each extraction site forms a punctate scar approximately 1 mm in diameter, which may affect the development of surrounding hair follicles; the extraction process can cause mechanical injury, reducing follicle survival rates; and excessive harvesting can lead to thinning in the donor area, resulting in a "moth-eaten" appearance.

In summary, in addition to pharmacological therapy,Hair Follicle Transplantation Is an Emerging Solution in Recent Years.This method involves transplanting hair follicles from the occipital region to the sparse areas of the forehead. While it yields rapid results, it is essentially a redistribution of resources and is only suitable for patients with mild hair loss. Its efficacy is limited in cases of extensive hair loss, and the extraction process can damage hair follicles.

Current clinical protocols either fail to reverse the process of hair follicle regression or are constrained by autologous resource limitations and associated risks of trauma. There is an urgent clinical need for innovative therapeutic strategies capable of achieving hair follicle regeneration at its root cause.

Against the backdrop of the limitations inherent in current hair loss treatments, this technology pioneers a novel pathway in regenerative medicine. Rather than merely improving upon existing protocols, it fundamentally reconstructs the logic of hair follicle regeneration at its source. The core innovation lies in leveraging patients’ own induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) within the developmental environment of live xenogeneic embryos to achieve the customized cultivation of autologous hair follicles with complete structural integrity.

Technological breakthroughs are first reflected in cell sources and expansion capacity.By employing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, ordinary adult cells from a patient’s blood or skin are reprogrammed into iPSCs with multilineage differentiation potential through the introduction of four key transcription factors: Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. This approach eliminates the need for invasive harvesting of autologous tissue, enabling the generation of theoretically unlimited stem cell sources from only a small number of somatic cells, thereby laying the foundation for large-scale hair follicle manufacturing.

Stem Cells Alone Are Not Enough: Guiding Cellular Assembly into Complex Hair Follicle Structures Remains a Global ChallengeThe second core advantage of this technology is the use of large animal embryos as "living bioreactors."

The scientific principle involves selecting xenogeneic embryos at a critical stage of hair formation, when their cutaneous microenvironment is rich in inductive signals for hair follicle development. Transplanting patient-derived skin organoids, which have differentiated to include ectodermal, mesodermal, and neuroendodermal cells, into the embryonic skin is akin to sowing seeds in fertile soil. Within the embryo’s native environment, the transplanted cells can precisely respond to biological signaling networks. By supplementing with the Wnt10b factor and modulating the concentrations of growth factors such as BMP-4, these cells efficiently self-organize and differentiate into artificial hair follicles resembling natural ones.

The third significant advantage is perfect immune compatibility and safety.The resulting artificial hair follicles are derived entirely from the patient’s own induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, with all cell surfaces expressing the patient’s major histocompatibility complex (MHC) markers. When these follicles are transplanted back into the patient’s scalp, they are not recognized as “foreign bodies” by the immune system, thereby fundamentally avoiding immune rejection and eliminating the need for immunosuppressive drugs.

Meanwhile, the patent strictly mandates that the xenogeneic embryo carriers used must meet specific pathogen-free (SPF) standards. All animal-derived tissues and cells are thoroughly removed during the hair follicle isolation phase to ensure that only purified human hair follicle structures are transplanted, thereby minimizing the risk of cross-species transmission of animal pathogens.

This solution successfully circumvents the biological bottlenecks of existing pharmacological treatments and the resource constraints associated with surgical transplantation, achieving a qualitative leap from “resource redistribution” to “resource regeneration.” It not only addresses the challenge of insufficient follicular donor supply, offering hope to patients with extensive hair loss, but also meets the specific morphological requirements for hair follicles in different areas, such as eyebrows and beards, through customized cultivation. By ensuring perfect autologous compatibility and treatment safety, this approach represents a highly promising breakthrough direction in the field of hair loss therapy.

Although the artificial hair follicle technology based on iPS cells and xenogeneic embryonic vectors offers a highly promising new paradigm in regenerative medicine for the radical cure of hair loss, technological exploration in this field is not limited to a single path. Globally, faced with substantial unmet clinical needs, numerous biotechnology companies and research institutions are tackling challenges from various dimensions, creating a diversified landscape of technological competition.

In China, XtalPiTwo topical ingredients targeting hair growth and retention have been developed: the small-molecule Remeanagen™ and the peptide AquaKine™. Leveraging an AI-powered molecular design platform refined over a decade, the company has achieved breakthroughs in key stages of hair growth: optimizing molecular structures to enhance skin penetration, activating dormant hair follicle stem cells to promote regeneration, and improving the follicular microenvironment to boost nutrient supply. This triple synergistic mechanism offers a novel solution for addressing hair loss.

According to clinical trial data released by the company, preliminary effects of the combination formula were observed in subjects after 14 days of use. After 45 days, over 90% of subjects exhibited visibly increased hair density, with average hair shedding reduced by 33% to 45%. No common side effects, such as initial exacerbation of hair loss, occurred during the trial period, demonstrating a favorable safety profile.

Two molecules have completed INCI registration, and their combination formula has passed the U.S. FDA cosmetic facility registration and product listing, and is about to be launched in overseas markets.

Jinan Pansheng BioMastering the core technologies for full-function skin organ regeneration, it has achieved the "world's first regeneration of functional skin appendages." This technology can cultivate artificial skin tissues containing hair follicles, capillaries, and sweat gland structures using human-derived living cells. In the field of artificial hair follicles, its developed full-function artificial skin has completed large animal experiments and is currently advancing toward medical device commercialization.

In the international market, Pelage PharmaceuticalsThe company recently completed a $120 million Series B financing round, co-led by ARCH Venture Partners and Google Ventures. The funds will be used to advance the development of its core hair loss treatment candidate, PP405. PP405 is a topical small-molecule drug that directly targets hair follicle stem cells, restarting the hair growth cycle by activating dormant stem cells. Based on the metabolic switch mechanism of hair follicle stem cells discovered at UCLA, the drug employs a non-hormonal pathway and is suitable for individuals of all genders suffering from hair loss. Building on the positive Phase 2a trial results previously obtained in its research on androgenetic alopecia, the company plans to advance PP405 into Phase 3 clinical trials in 2026.

VeradermicsRecently completed a $150 million Series C financing round, led by SR One. The funds will be used to advance the registrational Phase III clinical trials of its core product, VDPHL01. VDPHL01 is an extended-release oral minoxidil formulation, representing the first non-hormonal oral hair loss treatment designed for both men and women. This investigational drug utilizes a gel matrix to achieve sustained absorption and stable release, thereby prolonging the duration during which minoxidil levels remain above the "minimum hair growth threshold."

From laboratory breakthroughs to mature therapies that benefit a broad patient population, rigorous clinical validation and complex process translation remain essential. Across the industry, the field of hair regeneration is witnessing vigorous, parallel exploration of multiple technological pathways. Whether based on cell-, gene-, or small-molecule strategies, their ultimate success hinges on achieving key breakthroughs in safety, efficacy, accessibility, and scalable manufacturing. Looking ahead, advances in basic science and deeper clinical translation are poised to collectively propel hair-loss treatment from traditional resource-management approaches into a new era of true tissue regeneration.