Compositions for controlling hair growth

Patent Number: 7,223,562

This patent covers a novel protein called follicular papilla-1 (FP-1), that is selectively expressed in follicular papilla but not in dermal fibroblasts. The patent covers the FP-1 composition of matter, as well as vectors expressing it, cells expressing it, and specific sequences.

FP-1 is essential for hair growth has demonstrated by siRNA and antibody inhibition experiments. Additionally, application of FP-1 accelerates hair growth in certain models.

It will be interesting to see if FP-1 has stimulatory properties on other stem cell types.

View this patent on the USPTO website.