Why so much pessimism about ICX?

[cobey60]

If you look at their site (http://www.intercytex.com/icx/products/ ... ic/icxtrc/), it indicates that both Phase 1 and preliminary Phase 2 results were very successful (high percentage of patients increasing hair counts). Complete Phase 2 data will be available at end of Q1 this year.

When you read people's posts on this site you would think that the ICX process has been an utter failure. But what, apart from pessimism, is creating this opinion? There simply is not enough information to know HOW successful the ICX process has been thus far. All we really know is that a percentage of patients have increased hair counts (correct me if I am wrong, but isn't this a good thing?).

Based purely on this available information isn't the most likely outcome from here:
- Phase 3 trials starting late 2009/early 2010; finished late 2011
- More positive results consistent with Phase 1 and 2
- FDA approval 2012 (giving 3 proven hair treatments - minoxidil, finasteride, ICS HM)
- Product on market 2013

I am not saying that the ICX procedure will be a final cure-all (Norwood 7 to thick NW1) but, in my opinion, the available evidence suggests that it will be a valuable addition to the fight against baldness..

 

[monitoradiation]

I wasn't around on this site when they discussed it, but I'm willing to bet the reason why people aren't optimistic about ICX is that:

1) They said they weren't pursuing Phase 3 on their own; I took that to mean that the results weren't good enough for another round of financing.
2) They said they'd outsource the technology to Bosley, which is a hair transplant chain. A lot of people dislike them.
3) They didn't report the increase in hair density, average hair thickness, which should be easily obtained, given their research area. Increased hair COUNT is nothing unless the hair was terminal and the density was high, since this is a HM, we'd expect nothing less.

 

[Flavio]

If you look at their site (http://www.intercytex.com/icx/products/ ... ic/icxtrc/), it indicates that both Phase 1 and preliminary Phase 2 results were very successful (high percentage of patients increasing hair counts). Complete Phase 2 data will be available at end of Q1 this year.

When you read people's posts on this site you would think that the ICX process has been an utter failure. But what, apart from pessimism, is creating this opinion? [...]

Impatience. These guys can't wait to get their hair back

I have great faith in this new treatment. I'm not a scientist and I don't know the work of Intercytex in detail, but at least their website is clear and informative. Hair cloning won't be the definitive cure to baldness, but it will be a major improvement. Follica's therapy, by the contrary, looks like sh**.

 

[goata007]

Impatience. These guys can't wait to get their hair back

I have great faith in this new treatment. I'm not a scientist and I don't know the work of Intercytex in detail, but at least their website is clear and informative. Hair cloning won't be the definitive cure to baldness, but it will be a major improvement. Follica's therapy, by the contrary, looks like sh**.[/quote]

That's a bold statement, Follica is completely backed by research so why does it look like sh*t?

Yes, a lot of men here (including me) really want our hair back BUT the reason why we hate intercytex has more to do with the fact that they are giving out weired percentages alongwith statements saying that they are not pursuing phase-III on their own. This basically means they are not confident in their own product to allocate critical funding for TRC.

 

[bababooey]

Actually, skipping phase 3 would mean that phase 2 was so definitive and successful that further tests are not necessary.
These trials cost lots of money, if they can get FDA approval with phase 2 theres no reason for phase 3.

Phase 1 trials are for safety and Phase 2 are for efficacy of the treatment.
Phase 3 is when they find inconsistent results and want to further figure out why it happened.

However, I believe people are skeptical of hair multiplication because it has been talked about since maybe as early as 10 years ago. They've all heard of the "5 years to market" :jackit:

 

[goata007]

Actually, skipping phase 3 would mean that phase 2 was so definitive and successful that further tests are not necessary.
These trials cost lots of money, if they can get FDA approval with phase 2 theres no reason for phase 3.

Phase 1 trials are for safety and Phase 2 are for efficacy of the treatment.
Phase 3 is when they find inconsistent results and want to further figure out why it happened.

Actually, their phase-II was pretty good in the second group - the one with injections + stimulation. If i'm not wrong the success rate was 90%, but what kind of success - we don't know that. We're just gonna have to wait another 50 days.

Most bald men would be very content, if this can give us some density - just an illusion of a hairline instead of a shiny bald dome.

 

[Flavio]

[...] That's a bold statement, Follica is completely backed by research so why does it look like sh*t?
[...]

Well, I don't know their work in detail and I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but their treatment is based on this ultra secret regrowth formula - that should raise some eyebrows. And sticking knives in your scalp to regrow hair is... weird. The website of Intercytex, by the contrary, is clearer and more informative.

Anyway, I sincerely hope they're successful and make billions. If Follica's treatment works, I'll be more than happy to pay for it.