Secretome Treatment for Facial Rejuvenation

Blinded, Randomized, Controlled, Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Autologous Hair Follicle Secretome for Facial Rejuvenation

Secretome treatment for facial rejuvenation

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Rejuvenation; Stem Cell; Facial Aging; Stem Cell Banking
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Control Saline; Other: Autologous Hair Follicle-Derived Secretome

Detailed Description

This study will quantitatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of the autologous hair follicle secretome for skin rejuvenation. The secretome is produced by non-invasively collecting hair follicles by plucking 50-75 hairs. Ten follicles are selected to cultured in media (proprietary xeno- and human protein free) for 4 weeks and conditioned media is collected and lyophilized to produce the autologous secretome product. The secretome contains growth factors, extracellular matrix molecules, cytokines, exosomes, etc. Upon use, the autologous secretome is diluted in saline and used on the subject the hairs were collected from. This study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of intradermal injections of the secretome for facial rejuvenation. The study is a double-blind and open label extension phases, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Double-blind up to 120 days, followed by an open label extension for control patients opting to cross-over and receive active treatment.

The active treatment consists of two vials of secretome. Each vial of secretome diluted with 2ml of bacteriostatic saline (0.9% benzyl alcohol). A total of 1ml (0.5ml per side) of secretome will be injected using a canula under the eyes. In addition, a total of 2ml (1ml per side) of secretome will be injected intradermally on each side of the face. The face injections include 20 injection points per side, 1cm apart, placed in a grid-like from the temple down, including the cheek, nasal labial fold and marionette lines. A needle called MicronJet 800 will be used to ensure face injections are intradermal, not subcutaneous.

The control treatment (bacteriostatic saline) will be delivered following the same schema.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 24
• Phase: Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Lisa M Campbell, PhD; Phone Number: 905-695-6956; Email: lisa.campbell@acorn.me
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Heather Dwyer, MSc, CCRP; Phone Number: 905-695-6956; Email: heather@acorn.me

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Newport Beach, California, United States, 92663
      • Recruiting
      • Steve Yoelin, MD
      • Principal Investigator: Steve Yoelin, MD
      • Contact: Steve Yoelin, MD; Phone Number: (949) 548-2711; Email: info@steveyoelinmd.com
      • Contact: Shiraz Rezaei; Phone Number: 949-548-2711; Email: srezaei.symd@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria

• Male or Female
• Age: ≥30 and ≤ 75 at the time of consent.
• Fitzpatrick skin types I-V
• Moderate to very severe facial aging according to the SASSQ for the categories of elasticity, wrinkles, and skin roughness.
• Willing to refrain from cosmetic procedures throughout the study period (i.e. laser treatments, chemical peels, microneedling, dermal filler injections, neuromodulator injections, etc.)
• Willing to use study support products as directed and will not introduce any new skin care or makeup products throughout the study period. Subjects will be provided with a Skincare Kit: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser 20 oz, Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion 3 oz, Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Liquid Face Sunscreen SPF 50 . Two of each will be provided with application instructions.
• Male subjects with facial hair must be willing to shave the morning of their treatments/follow-up visits.
• Willing to minimize sun/ultraviolet light exposure for the duration of the study, including all of the following: applying sunscreen daily, at least 15 minutes before going outside; wearing sun-protective clothing (e.g., a hat, sunglasses) when outdoors; reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours during outdoor activities; avoiding tanning bed/tanning product use.
• Competent and willing to provide written, informed consent to participate in all study activities
• Willing and able to tolerate multiple injections and attend all study visits
• Negative urine pregnancy test result at the time of screening (if applicable)
• For female subjects of childbearing potential, must be willing to use an acceptable form of birth control (oral contraceptives, hormonal implants, intrauterine device [IUD], hormonal injectables specifically for birth control, contraceptive patch or ring, tubal ligation [tubes tied], or total sexual abstinence) during the entire course of the study. All systemic birth control measures (oral, hormonal implants, injectables) must be in consistent use for at least 30 days prior to study enrollment. A female is considered of childbearing potential unless she is postmenopausal, without a uterus and/or both ovaries, or has had a bilateral tubal ligation.

Exclusion Criteria

• Use of topical tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene, hydroquinone, imiquimod, 5-fluorouracil, ingenol mebutate, concentrated hydrogen peroxide, diclofenac, vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acids, or photodynamic therapy (PDT) to the face within 4 weeks prior to baseline photography and throughout the study period
• Dermatologic diseases or conditions (e.g. atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, wounds, infections, irritation, sunburn, windburn, etc.) in the treatment area that could interfere with the study, in the opinion of the Investigator
• Starting use or stopping use of GLP-1 agonists, or planned weight loss or gain during the study period. Subjects using GLP-1 agonists must be taking the drug for maintenance AND body weight must have been stable for at least 3 months prior to initial study treatment.
• History of keloid formation, hypertrophic scarring, or abnormal/delayed wound healing
• Previous medical aesthetic rejuvenation treatments on the face, such as chemical peel, dermabrasion, non-ablative or ablative resurfacing procedure, or face-lift with laser or other devices, up to 3 months prior to baseline photography
• Treatment with neuromodulators in crow's feet, glabellar region, or frontalis muscles within 4 months prior to baseline photography
• Treatment with dermal fillers, collagen stimulators, fat injections or permanent fillers within the past 6 months prior to baseline photography.
• Patients using other anti-aging treatments/procedures/systemic medications or injections administered/prescribed by a medical professional before starting the study, if the investigator believes they will confound the results. Consulting with Sponsor is encouraged.
• Heavy smoker (>1 pack of cigarettes a day)
• Energy-based device (i.e., radiofrequency device treatments, microfocused ultrasound device or other ultrasound-based device treatments, laser and light-based device treatments, microneedling) treatment in the treatment area within 6 months prior to baseline photography
• Currently be taking isotretinoin (Accutane).
• Subjects on an immunosuppressant or have an autoimmune condition (except stable, controlled Hashimoto's thyroiditis)
• Surgery (i.e., face lift, eyebrow lift, neck lift or lower rhytidectomy, liposuction, etc.) during the 12-month period prior to baseline photography
• Current participation or participation within 30 days prior to the start of this study in a drug or other investigational research study
• Severe active infection (e.g. HIV, HepB or C, UTI, etc.)
• Current or recent (within last 5 years) malignancy (except basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers as long as basal cell was not on the face)
• History of systemic chemotherapy or radiation within the last 5 years
• Continuous/daily use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory or Vitamin E, unless discontinued within 7 days before 1st treatment and only used as needed through the trial period.
• Anticipated pregnancy or trying to become pregnant in the next year
• Current anticoagulant therapy (heparins; factor Xa inhibitors; direct agents such dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, endoxaban and betrixaban; warfarin/coumarins). Low dose aspirin and omega-3 supplements allowed.
• Any other criterion that is based on the clinical judgment of the investigator may place the subject at risk or confound study results

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Control; Saline will act as a control and will be intradermally injected.	Other: Control Saline; Saline solution will be the placebo control. The active is diluted with saline so this is an appropriate control.
Experimental: Active-Secretome; Autologous Hair follicle Derived Secretome	Other: Autologous Hair Follicle-Derived Secretome; This interventional product is a secretome derived from the stem cells that reside in the hair follicle.; Other Names: aHFS; Hair Follicle Secretome; Hair Follicle Stem Cell

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events	Adverse events and expected treatment effects will be collected at each time point. Spontaneously reported adverse events will also be collected.	Baseline to 120days
VISIA-CR Skin Quality Scores (VISIA-CR is not an acronym, it is a brand name of the system)	VISIA-CR photography and analysis of skin quality (redness, wrinkles, UV spots, skin roughness). Scores range from 0-100. Lower scores are improvement.	Baseline, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Subject Satisfaction	Subject Satisfaction Scale is a 5-point Likert Scale. The scale is Dissatisfied, Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied, Slightly Satisfied, Satisfied and Very Satisfied.	30, 60, 90 and 120 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Acorn Biolabs Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 10, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 12, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 13, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: stem cells; aging; wrinkles; autologous; facial; regeneration; anti-aging; face; rejuvenation; secretome; hair follicle; under eyes
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Facies
• Other Study ID Numbers: ACN-301

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No