Absci Reports New Human Ex Vivo Data Demonstrating That ABS-201™ Stimulates Hair Growth and Regenerates Stem Cell Niche to Potentially Reverse Follicle Miniaturization
AbsciAbsci(US:ABSI) Globenewswire·2025-12-11 13:00

Core Insights - Absci Corporation has presented new preclinical data for ABS-201, an AI-designed antibody targeting the prolactin receptor, showing its potential to stimulate hair growth and reverse follicular miniaturization [1][9] - The findings suggest that ABS-201 could represent a novel therapeutic approach for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a condition affecting approximately 80 million Americans, which currently has limited treatment options [8][9] Group 1: Mechanism and Efficacy - ABS-201 inhibits the prolactin receptor signaling pathway, specifically blocking STAT5 phosphorylation, which is crucial for hair follicle growth regulation [4][5] - The treatment prolongs the anagen phase of hair growth, promotes keratin synthesis, and modulates the stem cell niche, thereby increasing the pool of hair follicle stem and progenitor cells [5][6] - ABS-201 has demonstrated superior hair regrowth compared to minoxidil in preclinical studies, indicating its potential effectiveness in treating AGA [9] Group 2: Clinical Implications - The study highlights the importance of prolactin signaling in hair growth regulation, suggesting that targeting this pathway could lead to new management strategies for AGA [3][5] - ABS-201's ability to facilitate the reconversion of vellus hair follicles to terminal hair follicles indicates a disease-modifying mechanism that differs from existing treatments [6][7] - The company anticipates interim data from its Phase 1/2a HEADLINE study in the second half of 2026, which will further evaluate ABS-201's efficacy [9] Group 3: Company Overview - Absci Corporation is focused on advancing drug discovery through generative design, combining AI models with synthetic biology to create innovative therapeutics [10] - The company is headquartered in Vancouver, WA, with additional facilities in New York City and Switzerland, and is collaborating with various pharmaceutical and biotech partners [10]