Company will Share Sneak Peek at Safety and Efficacy Results from In Progress Clinical Trial

NEW YORK, February 16, 2009 – Dr. Gail Naughton, CEO of Histogen, Inc., a regenerative medicine company developing solutions based on the products of newborn fibroblasts grown under embryonic conditions, will address attendees tomorrow at the 4th Annual Stem Cell Summit in New York. Dr. Naughton will be presenting preliminary mid-trial results from Histogen’s first human clinical evaluation of ReGenicaTM for hair regrowth.

The primary objective of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study is to evaluate safety in the clinical application of the ReGenica product for hair regrowth. Histogen is also examining product efficacy as a secondary objective, specifically looking at the same end-points the Company has seen in the animal model – new hair growth, and the thickness of new and existing hair. The study is in progress, but the Company has reviewed data from the scheduled 12 week time point and is pleased with the results to date.

“Histogen’s clinical trial was designed to assess the safety of its product over a five month period,” commented Dr. Craig Ziering, principal investigator of the study and founder of Ziering Medical. “In addition to seeing no adverse reactions, we were delighted to see more hair, thicker hair shafts, and what appears to be the growth of completely new hair follicles in the areas that received the ReGenica treatment.”

ReGenica is a proprietary liquid formula created by the culturing of newborn fibroblasts in an embryonic-like environment, and then harvesting the naturally secreted embryonic wnt proteins, growth factors, and other synergistic bioproducts that are produced. It is the first naturally stabilized and bioactive formulation of wnt proteins and natural cofactors, which are thought to act in the formation of new hair follicles.

“Wnt signaling has been shown to be responsible for initiating epidermal stem cells to form new hair follicles in mice, and is also important in maintaining the hair inducing activity from existing follicles,” said Frank Zeigler, General Manager at Histogen. “We are excited to be the first group to show these effects in a clinical setting using human WNT proteins.”

Histogen began this outside-U.S. study of ReGenica for hair regrowth in November, with the goal of more rapidly obtaining human safety data which will allow the Company to progress with product development. The trial is currently ongoing, and Histogen expects to release full results from this first clinical study in the first half of 2009.

Dr. Gail Naughton has spent more than 15 years extensively researching the tissue engineering process, and holds more than 90 patents in the field. Dr. Naughton founded Histogen in 2007, and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board for the Company, in addition to her position as Dean of the College of Business at San Diego State University.

About Histogen
Histogen, launched in 2007, seeks to redefine regenerative medicine by developing a series of high value products that do not contain embryonic stem cells or animal components. Through Histogen's proprietary bioreactors that mimic the embryonic environment, newborn fibroblasts are encouraged to naturally produce the vital proteins and growth factors from which the Company has developed its rich product portfolio. Histogen has two product families - ExceltrixTM, Histogen's human Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and ReGenicaTM, Histogen's proprietary liquid formula.

...yeah right...ain't happenin bro...

I think they could cure hairloss if they really wanted to. The technology is there. Its just that they make so much money from hair transplants and propecia rogaine etc, they have no real reason to cure baldness. lol. But as high end technology becomes more standardized and affordable you will see progress.

"Dr. Gail Naughton has spent more than 15 years extensively researching the tissue engineering process, and holds more than 90 patents in the field"

He holds 30, not 90.

And it is "thought to generate new hair follicles" ?????????????????

This would be a very basic question to know the answer to, not "thought to".

Follica at least knows they generate new follicles.

- AG

Whether it is happening now, soon or years later, "thought to" or otherwise. At least, there are people willing to contribute in R&D because they know this will help them generate profits. It is a piece of good news. Folica may take years too, just like Intercytex.