Encyclopedia · growth stimulant
WAY-316606
A lab compound that blocks the Wnt brake SFRP1 and lengthened hair in donated human scalp follicles kept alive in a dish; it has never been tested in a person.
What it is
WAY-316606 is a small molecule that blocks SFRP1, originally made for osteoporosis research. It was found as the hair lead in a 2018 study that used the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, a known cause of excess hair growth, to find new targets (Hawkshaw 2018). It is not a drug: no human trial and no approved form. It is sold online only as a research chemical, which is not an endorsement or safety statement.
How it works
Cyclosporine lowered SFRP1 in the dermal papilla of human follicles. SFRP1 inhibits Wnt signals, so blocking it with WAY-316606 boosted Wnt activity, hair-shaft production and keratin expression and inhibited spontaneous regression in cultured follicles (Hawkshaw 2018). The authors argue it only amplifies Wnt signals already present, which may avoid cancer concerns of constant over-activation; that is a hypothesis, not tested.
What the studies show
- In human scalp follicles kept in organ culture, it enhanced hair-shaft production and delayed regression (Hawkshaw 2018).
- No animal efficacy data or human data were found.
Side effects and safety
- Unknown. Wnt over-activation is a theoretical cancer concern in the literature.
Bottom line
WAY-316606 is a target story (cyclosporine's hair effect explained through SFRP1), not a product. Do not treat vendors' "research" listings as evidence. Discuss with a doctor.
Fun facts
- Scientists found it by asking why the transplant drug cyclosporine makes people hairy; the answer in dish-grown human follicles pointed to SFRP1 (Hawkshaw 2018).
Studies 1
Hawkshaw NJ et al. Identifying novel strategies for treating human hair loss disorders: cyclosporine A suppresses the Wnt inhibitor, SFRP1, in the dermal papilla of human scalp hair follicles. PLoS Biol. 2018
Tested: cyclosporine A and WAY-316606
Result: Cyclosporine lowered SFRP1 and WAY-316606 reproduced the effect, boosting hair shaft production and delaying regression.
Read the study ↗Related
- Cyclosporine (ciclosporin)A transplant and psoriasis immunosuppressant that makes hair grow as a side effect and works off-label in alopecia areata, but is toxic to kidneys and blood pressure.
- Valproic acid (sodium valproate)A seizure and mood-stabiliser drug that grew hair as a scalp spray in one tiny trial, but taken by mouth commonly causes hair shedding and is a major birth-defect risk.
- SM04554 (dalosirvir)A topical Wnt-pathway activator tested in about a thousand men with pattern baldness that showed no significant benefit over vehicle.
- PTD-DBM (CXXC5 competitor peptide)A short peptide that stops the Wnt brake CXXC5 from binding Dishevelled; it sped hair regrowth in mice but has no human data.
- Hair growth pipeline (2026)What is in clinical trials for hair loss as of October 2026, how far along it is, and how much to trust the early numbers.