Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MNTA)

[floblu14]

RE:METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR MODULATING HAIR GROWTH -

Abstract:
Methods and compositions related to promoting hair growth are described.

What's quite interesting in their 4th update is that MNTA has a medical, code name for this product - MONC402

Excerpts:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that low molecular weight heparin (e.g., a LMWH described herein, e.g., a LMWH having reduced anticoagulant activity) can promote hair growth. Accordingly, the invention features, inter alia, methods to increase hair growth, and related pharmaceutical, veterinary and/or cosmetic preparations.

[0003] As used herein "hair" means scalp, head, facial and/or body hair, including but not limited to hair on the scalp, eyelashes, brows, mustache, and beard.

[0004] As used herein "inducing hair growth" means the earlier induction (compared to a control) of growth of a new hair cycle, and/or prolonging the active growth phase of the hair cycle, and/or increasing the growth rate of the hair, and/or increasing the width of hair shaft, including, but not limited to, the induction of the growth of hair and making it more visible to the eye.

[00052] In many experimental animal models of cancer, animals are routinely shaved in certain areas, such as the abdomen or back, to facilitate the inoculation or implantation of cancer cells, injections, implantation of pumps, etc. In the course of analyzing the effects of MONC402 in such mouse tumor models, we unexpectedly observed that tumor-bearing mice treated with MONC402 had consistently faster regrowth of hair in the shaved areas than mice treated with saline as a control.

[00053] To further study this observation, we conducted an experiment to assess the effect of MONC402 on hair growth in normal mice. The backs of eight week old female BALB/c mice were shaved. Osmotic pumps containing saline, fragmin, MONC402 or MONC202 (N- desulphated LMWH derived from nitrous acid depolymerization of UFH) were implanted in four shaved mice per treatment group. Staples used to close the implantation wound were removed seven days later. Mice were sacrificed 16 days after osmotic pump implantation. (One mouse receiving fragmin died before the end of the experiment). The mice were photographed (see Figure 1) and scores for hair growth over the shaved area were determined for each mouse prior to sacrifice (Table 1).

[00054] As shown in Table 1, none of the control, saline-treated animals exhibited visible hair regrowth during the test period. 2 of 4 mice treated with MONC202 control (nitrous acid depoiymerized, N-desulfated LMWH) showed only slight (very thin or thin) hair growth by 16 days. In contrast, MONC402-treated mice exhibited greater levels of hair regrowth. Mice treated with 20 and 30 mg/kg/day of MONC402 showed greater effects (3 of 4 mice having moderate hair growth) than 10 mg kg/day, indicative of a dose dependent response.

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https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/description?CC=BR&NR=112012031906A2&KC=A2&FT=D&ND=3&date=20160823&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP