In the worst news in the hair loss world in a few years, I have been notified that Stemson Therapeutics (US) has been forced to shut down due to funding issue. Over the past decade, this company represented the biggest hope for a real hair loss cure along with Takashi Tsuji (OrganTech).
Stemson Therapeutics Ceases Operations
Below is the e-mail I just got from CEO Geoff Hamilton. It was in response to my e-mail to him yesterday regarding recent issues with layoffs at the company and their website stemsontx DOT com not working.
“Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, all is not OK. Due to lack of funding is this historically bad biotech funding market since 2022, Stemson has been forced to cease operations and shut down. I wish it were a different outcome. We were going after the holy grail and the most difficult approach to regenerate hair follicles, but one that could actually be curative.
It requires an enormous amount of investment, and the investment community didn’t have enough enthusiasm for it. Hopefully, someone will pick up where we left off in the future. I wish you all the best and happy holidays.”
And as a side note, Aderans and its hair multiplication procedure are truly cursed. The Japanese company’s hair multiplication subsidiary originally folded in 2013 despite significant promise. Their technology then got reincarnated in 2024 after a new licensing deal with Stemson Therapeutics. Now they fold again.
For the time being, we have to look forward to the numerous new products that could be released in the near future that maintain one’s hair and regrow some recently lost hair. Hopefully, Shiseido’s newly released hair multiplication technology will be more effective than finasteride or minoxidil.
Reversing long-standing baldness remains a pipe dream in the short term.