GHP April 2017

GHP / April 2017 29 , Arbor Life Labs strives to support consumers’ growing demand for the extraordinary healing power of nature using drug- free, all natural and clean-label products by bridging the gaps between traditional healing arts and rigorous science in human biology. Peter discusses the firm’s focus on its hair loss treatment and how it works to ensure that the very highest standards are met to satisfy the needs of its clients. “Here at Arbor Life Labs our primary research currently focuses on biomarkers influencing the integumentary system with emphasis on hair growth. Our lead product targets the $4B US and the $16B Asian Hair Loss market with an efficacy superiority over the market leading drugs and natural products. Arbor has been able to secure 47 health claims, approved by Health Canada including Alopecia. Arbor’s lead product is certified as clean label, drug-free, vegan, kosher and halal to meet changing market demands. Arbor’s hair loss products will be available in Q3, 2017 under the brand Replenology .” “Arbor’s initial focus is the US Hair Loss market with 35M men and 21M women experiencing hair loss. The leading FDA approved drug has less than 30% efficacy. There is a lack of high-efficacy non-surgical solutions. The market is experiencing a rapid change in consumer behaviour and demographics demanding clean- label, drug-free solutions with strong scientific validation. As a firm we are poised to meet these changing demands.” There are more than 30 published biomarkers associated with hair growth and loss. Most solutions inhibit only dihydrotestosterone(DHT) with limited results. A systematic review of studies of the leading hair loss drug accounting for more than 5,000 studied subjects, reported an efficacy of less than 30%. Dermatologists acknowledge current hair loss solutions do not effectively meet the medical need. Arbor is addressing this unmet need by targeting many of the known molecular markers implicated in hair loss to yield an efficacy superiority over the market leading drugs. Its patents pending create a significant competitive barrier and provide a platform for broad expansion into other therapeutic areas such as anti-ageing indications, as Peter explains. “Our intellectual property modulates molecular markers with natural ingredients with high degree of specificity, efficacy and safety. Many of our competitors in natural products cannot explain how their product works or demonstrate efficacy. Our pharmaceutical competitors have products that are focused on one specific biologic action. The science has been widely published that hair loss is caused by multiple biological actions, and Arbor has developed the most comprehensive hair loss solution to-date.” Based in Toronto, Canada, Arbor has access to world class scientists in health, regenerative medicine, molecular marker laboratories and botanical science. The Canadian and provincial engagement with research and development in human health sciences facilitates an excellent integration of industry and academia. Peter outlines the region’s natural remedies market currently and how Arbor is working to adapt to the various developments it encounters. “Natural therapeutics have been used as traditional medicines to treat disease for thousands of years. Many drugs are derived from plant based therapeutic properties – most famously acetylsalicylic acid or ASA commonly known as aspirin which was originally extracted from willow bark and has been manufactured in pure form since 1899. In fact, natural products and their derivatives represent more than 50% of all the drugs in clinical use in the world. Further, by the beginning of 21st century, 11% of 252 drugs considered essential by the WHO are exclusively of flowering plant origin. The challenge with botanical based products can be generalized into two areas, i.e. standardization of nutrient profiles to consistently deliver a patient with therapeutically effective doses of bioavailable nutrients and the “Fuzzy Science” that is often positioned to consumers as a definitive treatment.” “In addition, the biological action of botanicals and their nutrients is currently not well understood. There is a growing transition amongst consumers towards self-medication and natural health products for the many chronic and incurable health conditions. Along with this trend is a resistance towards prescribed medications, particularly when a natural option has a chance of success. Consumers are also trending towards socially responsible behaviours which include moving towards vegan, non-GMO and organic dietary consumption. This trend has also extended to the cosmetic world where consumers who care about what they put in or on their body, are increasingly demanding products with transparency demonstrating low or no carcinogens, allergens, reproductive or endocrine disruptors. Finally, more consumers are adequately informed and they are demanding scientific proof of product claims. Providing consumers with non-drug solutions to meet all of these varied needs is both a challenge and an opportunity for which our firm is well positioned to capitalize on this emerging consumer reality.” Looking ahead, Arbor is extending its science into a broad regenerative and anti- ageing platform of multiple cell and tissue types including skin, nervous system, cardiovascular, bone, muscle and connective tissue. This has far reaching opportunities for anti-aging, preventive health and sport, and the firm is excited for the additional chances it will have to build upon its current success. Peter Feldman