WAY-316606 modulates the WNT pathway for the treatment of male and female hair loss

Hair loss is a defect that is difficult to hide and seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. Different types of hair loss have different causes, so hair loss can seem like a small problem, but it can be difficult to cure. As people continue to search for more effective treatments for hair loss, WAY-316606 has a new mode of action in the treatment of hair loss, as described below.

What is WAY-316606?

WAY-316606 does not directly help hair growth; it is the WNT pathway that affects hair growth. The SFRP-1 protein is an antagonist of WNT, and WAY-316606 enhances the action of WNT by inhibiting the action of SFRP-1 protein, thereby aiding hair growth. Therefore, WAY-316606 is an inhibitor of SFRP-1.

The WNT pathway regulates the hair growth cycle

Regulation of the hair cycle involves multiple mechanisms and signaling pathways with complex interactions among them. The WNT signaling pathway is one of the important regulatory factors.

The transition from growth to rest of hair is influenced by WNT/ β-catenin, which, through a series of actions, activates receptors in DP, resulting in hairball activation. The blood vessels around the hair follicle increase during the hair growth phase and recede during the degenerative phase.

DP cell exocrine bodies isolated from scalp specimens of healthy humans accelerated the onset and prolonged the initial hair growth phase in mouse models.

Thus, the activation of WNT/ β-catenin leads to the growth of hair and ultimately prevents or reverses AGA miniaturization to restore or maintain visible hair density.

Understand the hair growth cycle

The hair on the scalp is produced by hair follicles, which are the skin organs of mammals. Instead of continuously producing hair, follicles go through a growth phase that lasts two years or more, then retreat to a quiescent phase of up to two months before growing new hair again.

In the hair growth stage, the life cycle of hairballs is mainly divided into three stages: the growth stage of the initial hair growth, the degradation stage of the middle hair growth and the rest stage of the final hair growth.

In the early stages of hair growth, hair fibers form and elongate. During metaphase hair growth, hair remains and grows. At the end of hair growth, the hair falls out. After hair loss, it enters a resting period, when the hair follicles are empty.

During the hairy ball growth and hair production stage, hair follicles are regulated by growth factors, at which time proliferation, differentiation and survival activities dominate. On the contrary, the pathway inducing apoptosis of hairball cells was activated during the resting period.

The hairball is located in the lower part of the hair follicle. At the early stage of hair growth, hair stem cells are activated to promote the regeneration of the hairball. At this time, the hairball rapidly proliferates, connects with the dermal papilla (DP), and differentiates into stromal cells to start hair growth. In the hair degeneration stage, the hairball rapidly apoptoses and separates from DP.

The cycle length of hair growth and loss remains relatively constant. Therefore, the main determinant of hair quantity is the duration of the hair growth period. The longer the duration, the more hair and the greater the density of the hair. Therefore, by enhancing the signaling pathway of WNT, the growth period of hair can be prolonged and the density of hair can be maintained or restored.

How was WAY-316606 discovered?

WNT was found to be down-regulated in the degenerative DP of human scalp hair follicles, while SFRP-1 reduced WNT/ β-catenin activity in hair follicles by inhibiting WNT ligands in human hair balls.

Therefore, if the activity of SFRP-1 is inhibited, hair growth can be enhanced and hair degeneration can be delayed.

Cyclosporine A(CsA) was originally found to reduce SFRP-1 activity, causing hair growth in users. But CsA has a number of serious side effects, including nausea, vomiting, seizures, and muscle and joint pain, and is not suitable for hair growth. Later studies found that WAY-316606 also inhibited the activity of SFRP-1 (screened from 44,000 compounds), and WAY-316606 has been developed to treat osteoporosis.

WAY-316606, proposed in 2018 to promote hair growth in humans, is a newly discovered drug with a novel mechanism of action.

With the study of hair loss, people have found that there are many reasons for hair loss, and the effect of treating hair loss from a single reason is not very ideal. People are beginning to look for different drugs with different modes of action to treat hair loss. WAY-316606 is a newly discovered drug with a new mode of action, offering new possibilities for patients suffering from hair loss that has not been cured for a long time.

Comparison of mode of action of WAY-316606 with other drugs for hair loss

The most commonly used drugs for hair loss today are Minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride, RU58841, etc.

Minoxidil prevents hair loss and promotes hair growth through a variety of roles, including opening potassium channels and promoting proliferation and development of hair follicle cells; Increase vasodilator effect, bring more oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles, promote hair growth; It also shortens the hair’s resting period and prolongs the growth period.

Finasteride treats androgenic alopecia by inhibiting the action of type II 5AR to reduce the production of circulating DHT.

Dutasteride treats androgenic alopecia by inhibiting the action of type I and type II 5AR to reduce the production of circulating DHT.

RU58841 is an antiandrogen that treats androgenic alopecia by blocking the binding of androgens (testosterone and DHT) to receptors in the scalp site.

WAY-316606 enhances the WNT signaling pathway, prolongs the duration of the growth phase of hair, delays the degenerative phase of hair, and increases the overall density of hair.

Compared to existing treatments for hair loss, WAY-316606 has a completely new mode of action. For patients who have tried different hair loss medications with little or no effect, look at WAY-316606.

The advantages of WAY-316606 in hair loss

In androgenic alopecia, DHT (dihydrotestosterone) builds up in the hair follicles, clogging the pores and causing the hair follicles to gradually miniaturize. Over time, after a few cycles of hair growth, the rectus muscle in the hair follicle may be replaced, making it impossible for new hair to grow.

In a healthy scalp and hair follicles, there can be multiple hairs in one follicle, and the hair diameter is thicker and healthier. In degenerated hair follicles, the hair becomes smaller and smaller until it doesn’t grow back at all.

According to WAY-316606’s mode of action, it preserves the existing amount of hair in the hair follicle, encouraging the hair balls to grow new hair. When hair is always present in the hair follicle, the condition of the hair follicle and the upright hair muscle is maintained.

Therefore, the use of WAY-316606 alone can effectively increase the number of hair and make the hair thicker. When combined with Finasteride or other drugs that block DHT, DHT levels in the scalp area can be reduced, further protecting hair follicle health and providing a better environment for hair growth. If used with Minoxidil, healthier hair will grow.

WAY-316606 use and dosage

WAY-316606 treatment of hair loss is still in the pre-clinical research stage, and there is no relevant use and dosage, currently sold and purchased for research purposes.

Some people have used 0.5%-1.5% WAY-316606 solution locally, and it is said that the effect is very good. However, there are no relevant trials to verify the dosage and use of WAY-316606.