Baldness causing genes identified

Japanese researchers are closer to finding a cure to baldness

Japanese household goods manufacturer, Lion Corp, said that its joint study with the University of Tokushima in western Japan had discovered that two types of genes relate to both hair growth and hair loss functions.

The genes are the bone morphogenetic protein, which helps make bones, and ephrin, which helps make blood vessels.

The company said that researchers made their discovery by extracting hair growth cells from the scalp and conducting genetic analysis.

A spokesperson for Lion Corp said the team also found that a plant-derived ingredient, called 6-benzyl aminopurine, could help revitalise the two genes and help restore hair growth.

Lion Corp is aiming to develop a new hair-loss treatment, using their finding. It currently sells hair-nourishment products in Japan and Korea.
 
The company could not say how soon it would develop a new product, as research is still in its early stages.

Earlier media reports about the company’s findings boosted shares in Lion by as much as 15.7 percent to 604 yen ($5.11) at one point on Tuesday, the highest since October 1996, although they shed some gains to end at 547 yen ($4.63), up 4.79 percent.