February 6, 2024
Technoderma Phase 2 Trials Success
Technoderma’s Phase 2 clinical trials for TDM-105795 have succeeded (h/t “Flynn”). This Chinese company came out of the blue last year via its unique thyromimetic drug. Per the results of this trial:
- The non-vellus Target Area Hair Count (TAHC) showed a mean increase from baseline of 24.3 hairs with the high-strength (0.02%) dosage topical solution. And an increase of 20.3 hairs with the low-strength (0.0025%) topical solution. This compared with a 14.0 hairs increase with placebo in a 1 cm2 test area.
According to the company’s chief medical officer, TDM-105795 has demonstrated hair growth in AGA with a favorable safety profile. They will therefore move forward with the clinical program.
TDM-105795 has poor systemic absorption after topical application and a short half-life. This makes the drug well-suited to avoid causing unwanted systemic effects.
Per CEO Zengquan Wang:
“We are committed to developing a portfolio of innovative dermatology drug candidates.”
April 12, 2023
In February, someone e-mailed me a news link on Technoderma (China)’s site. At the bottom of that page devoted to dermatitis was a section on androgenetic alopecia (AGA):
“Previously, the company has completed the phase I clinical trial of TDM-105795 tincture in androgen alopecia (AGA), and is expected to initiate the phase II clinical trial in the middle of March 2023.”
On the company’s site, it says that TDM-105795 is a “first-in-class” small molecule thyromimetic drug candidate. It is being developed as a topical drug for treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Thyromimetics are synthetic analogs of thyroid hormones.
A 2022 study from China found that Technoderma’s thyroid hormone receptor agonist promotes hair growth in mice. They called the molecule thyroxine receptor agonist TDM 10842. The researchers suggest a potential mechanism to be the activation of Wnt/beta-catenin and Hedgehog pathways.
Note that the hair growth resulted via “the early induction of anagen” so it is not brand new hair. However, a prolonged anagen phase might make one’s remaining hair more resistant to the ravages of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). And perhaps help regenerate some recently miniaturized hair.
The Thyroid Hormone and Hair Growth
- A 2016 study from Europe concluded that the thyroid hormone analogue KB2115 (Eprotirome) prolongs the human hair growth cycle (i.e., anagen).
- A 2010 US study found that a thyroid hormone receptor beta subtype-selective thyromimetic 5 was efficacious in mouse and monkey hair growth after topical application.
- A 2008 study even concluded that thyroid hormones (besides prolonging the anagen phase of the hair cycle) impact hair pigmentation.
Technoderma Begins Phase 2 Trials
Earlier today, someone e-mailed me that Technoderma just began recruiting for their Phase 2 clinical trials in the US per a Reddit post. They are moving just as fast as the other Chinese company Kintor Pharma.
The clinical trial page states a trial start date of April 17, 2023 and a completion date of November 30, 2023. Update: Now confirmed. First doses given.
They are looking for 72 volunteers. The sponsors and collaborators are listed as Technoderma Medicines Inc and Therapeutics Inc (a dermatology contract research organization).
The clinical trial page lists three research locations in Oregon, Texas and Virginia. However, per the Reddit post, there are thirteen cities across nine states where you can get recruited to participate. I will not post the city names or the contact person’s e-mail here for now, but you can check the Reddit.
I posted this right away because the 72 participant capacity will likely fill up very fast.
