As we said, WAY-316606 is a SFRP1 inhibitor and SFRP1 is actually a modulator of the Wnt signaling pathways.
The Wnt signaling pathway play a big part in the development of osteoporosis. This is where WAY-316606 comes in as a treatment for osteoporosis.
But what does this have to do with treating hair loss?
It turns out that Wnt signaling pathways play a major role in hair loss as well.
As a hair follicle and its surrounding hairs develop, a process known as cell differentiation takes place in the base of the hair follicle.
During cell differentiation, proteins get produced and delivered to the hair follice. An overexpression of certain proteins, however, leads to faster cycling of the hair strand. This is especially the case with the SFRP1 protein.
If this process lasts for a longer period of time, it can lead to hair follicle miniaturization.
All of this happens as a part of the Wnt signaling pathway and this process is especially common in people who are prone to hair loss.
As WAY regulates the Wnt signalling pathway, it’s believed it can play a role in slowing down protein over-expression and result in regular hair growth and development.