What RepliCel Life Sciences does

RepliCel Life Sciences is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, founded in 2011. It develops autologous cell therapies derived from cells isolated from a patient's own hair follicles, applied across three indications: RCH-01 for androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss), RCS-01 for aging and sun-damaged skin rejuvenation, and RCT-01 for chronic tendon degeneration such as Achilles tendinopathy. The underlying technology leverages dermal sheath cup (DSC) cells and non-bulbar dermal sheath (NBDS) cells, with proprietary cryopreservation protocols enabling long-term storage and distribution. In parallel, the company has developed DermaPrecise™ (RCI-02), a motorized dermal injection device with programmable depth, volume, and flow-rate control, a Peltier cooling element for pre-injection numbing, and interchangeable needle head configurations.

The company operates an asset-light, partnership-driven business model. RepliCel does not sell products directly; instead it has licensed exclusive regional commercial rights to its cell therapies and device. Shiseido Company holds exclusive co-development and commercialization rights for RCH-01 in Asia (including Japan), funding clinical trials, manufacturing, regulatory approvals, and sales/marketing there, with RepliCel entitled to upfront fees, milestones, and 10-year post-launch sales royalties. YOFOTO (China) Health Company holds exclusive rights for RCT-01 and RCS-01 in Greater China and for DermaPrecise™ in Greater China dermatology applications, co-funding program development. RepliCel retains all rights outside Asia and Greater China.

As of February 2025, RepliCel has no commercially launched products and no disclosed operating revenue. The company completed an asset sale and royalty transaction in February 2025 and announced voluntary delisting from the TSX Venture Exchange on February 21, 2025, with the public entity shell renamed RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. on March 3, 2025. Headcount is 11-50 employees. Clinical milestones to date include a completed Phase 2 dose-finding study for RCH-01 in Japan (65 patients) showing statistically significant increases in hair density and diameter, zero serious adverse events in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, and peer-reviewed publications in dermatology and sports medicine journals.

Name

RepliCel Life Sciences

Legal name

RepliCel Life Sciences Inc.

Website

https://replicel.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RepliCel Life Sciences is a clinical-stage Canadian regenerative medicine company developing autologous cell therapies (RCH-01, RCS-01, RCT-01) and the DermaPrecise™ motorized injector, targeting pattern hair loss, skin rejuvenation, and chronic tendinopathy, commercialized via exclusive regional licenses with Shiseido and YOFOTO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regenerative Medicine (Cell Therapy and Medical Device)

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous) (HLAAABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cartilage, Bone & Musculoskeletal Regeneration (HLAAAGAH), Wound Healing & Skin Regeneration (advanced dressings, skin substitutes) (HLAAAGAG)

Keywords

• Cell therapy products
• Regenerative medicine
• Autologous cell therapy
• Medical injection devices
• Tissue repair therapies

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Licensing Royalties (Shiseido): Shiseido pays upfront licensing fees, post-commercial milestone payments, and sales royalties (for 10 years after launch) for RCH-01 commercialization in Asia. Shiseido funds all clinical testing, regulatory approvals, manufacturing, sales and marketing in Asia.
2. Licensing Royalties (YOFOTO): YOFOTO holds exclusive license for RCT-01 and RCS-01 in Greater China and RCI-02 device in Greater China for dermatology. Partnership involves co-development with YOFOTO funding programs in Greater China.
3. Product Sales (Future): Pre-commercial stage. Asset sale and royalty transaction completed in February 2025. Company is delisting from TSX Venture Exchange as it transitions to private/public delisted status.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RepliCel Life Sciences develops and licenses autologous cell therapy products (RCH-01 for androgenetic alopecia, RCS-01 for skin rejuvenation, and RCT-01 for chronic Achilles tendinopathy) derived from cells isolated from the patient's own hair follicles. The company also developed DermaPrecise™ (RCI-02), a next-generation motorized dermal injection device with programmable depth and volume control for delivering injectable substances into the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.

Product overview

RepliCel Life Sciences is a regenerative medicine company developing a portfolio of autologous cell therapies and a medical device. The company has three cell therapy products: RCT-01 for tendon repair, RCS-01 for skin rejuvenation, and RCH-01 for hair growth—all derived from cells isolated from the patient's own hair follicles. The DermaPrecise™ (RCI-02) dermal injector device is designed to improve the delivery of these cell therapies and other injectable substances. The products work together as the company develops cell-based treatments while also creating an optimized injection device to administer them.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DermaPrecise™: Next-generation dermal injection technology - a motorized injection device with programmable depth and volume, built-in Peltier element for pre-injection numbing, and interchangeable needle head configurations.
• RCH-01
• RCS-01
• RCT-01

Products and services

• RCH-01 Hair Growth Autologous cell therapy using dermal sheath cup (DSC) cells isolated from the patient's own hair follicles to regenerate hair in balding areas of the scalp and treat androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern hair loss). Licensed exclusively to Shiseido Company for Asia.
• RCS-01 Skin Rejuvenation Autologous cell therapy utilizing non-bulbar dermal sheath (NBDS) cells to repair and regenerate aging and sun-damaged skin tissue by generating new collagen (Type 1 and Type 2) and elastin under the skin. Licensed exclusively to YOFOTO for Greater China.
• RCT-01 Tendon Repair Autologous cell therapy utilizing non-bulbar dermal sheath (NBDS) cells isolated from hair follicles to repair degenerated tendon tissue in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy, with the goal of regenerating tendon tissue, restoring blood flow, decreasing pain, and increasing function. Licensed exclusively to YOFOTO for Greater China.
• DermaPrecise™ (RCI-02) Motorized Injector Next-generation motorized dermal injection device with programmable depth, volume, flow rate, and shear stress; integrated Peltier element for pre-injection numbing; and interchangeable needle head configurations from a single needle up to a 16-needle 4x4 array, controlled via touch-screen docking station for 3-dimensional deposition of injectable substances (hyaluronic acid fillers, toxins, fat, collagen) into dermis and subcutaneous tissue.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-13 more hairs per square centimeter at 9 months post-treatment in best responders
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shiseido CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Shiseido licensed exclusive co-development and commercial rights for RCH-01 hair growth product in Asia. The agreement involved upfront licensing fee, post-commercial milestone payments, and sales royalties (10 years after launch). Shiseido funds all clinical testing, regulatory approvals, manufacturing, sales and marketing in Asia. RepliCel conducted extensive technology transfer of all production and quality control aspects and supported facility design, validation, and personnel training at Shiseido's Kobe, Japan manufacturing facility.
• YOFOTO (China) Health CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYOFOTO holds exclusive license for RCT-01 tendon repair and RCS-01 skin rejuvenation in Greater China. YOFOTO also has exclusive commercial rights for RCI-02 DermaPrecise™ device in Greater China for dermatology applications. YOFOTO is funding programs in Greater China and expected to first launch the device in Hong Kong upon CE mark approval. Transaction involves financing RepliCel's programs in Greater China.
• Tokyo Medical University HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted Phase 2 clinical trial for RCH-01 hair growth product as part of Shiseido-funded study. Study involved 65 patients (50 males, 15 females) with pattern hair loss.
• Toho University Ohasi Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted Phase 2 clinical trial for RCH-01 hair growth product as part of Shiseido-funded study. Study confirmed safety and efficacy of autologous cell-based therapy using dermal sheath cup cells.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Castle Creek Biosciences (formerly Fibrocell Science): Developed autologous fibroblast cell therapy (azficel-T/laViv) for skin aesthetics and is pursuing cell and gene therapies for dermatology indications. Directly comparable business model and autologous cell-therapy approach for cosmetic dermatology.
• Histogen (now Kerastem): Pursued regenerative cell-conditioned media and cell therapy approaches for androgenetic alopecia and hair restoration. Most direct competitor to RCH-01 in the autologous/allogeneic hair regeneration category.
• Aderans Company: Japanese company specializing in cell-based hair multiplication therapy (Ji JAMI) using autologous hair follicle cells. Direct peer in autologous cell therapy for androgenetic alopecia; later acquired by Shiseido, RepliCel's RCH-01 partner.
• Rion (Rion Co., Ltd.): Japan-based regenerative medicine company developing autologous cell-based treatments for hair loss using follicle-derived cells. Highly comparable technology and target indication (androgenetic alopecia).
• Vericel (formerly Aastrom Biosciences): Develops autologous cell therapies including MACI for cartilage repair and Epicel for severe burns. Direct peer in autologous cell therapy for musculoskeletal/tissue indications analogous to RCT-01.

Emerging players

• Stemson Therapeutics: Pre-clinical company using iPSC-derived cells to engineer new hair follicles for androgenetic alopecia. Emerging player targeting the same patient population as RCH-01 with a different cell source.
• Follica: Developed a regenerative hair growth procedure combining skin disruption with a topical compound to create new hair follicles. Adjacent technology targeting the same androgenetic alopecia indication via a dermatology-office procedure.
• PolarityTE: Regenerative medicine company developing autologous cell-based skin and tissue regeneration products (e.g., SkinTE). Direct peer in autologous tissue regeneration for dermatology applications.

Broad incumbents

• Mesoblast: Commercial-stage regenerative medicine company with cell therapies targeting inflammatory conditions and orthopedic/tissue repair. Broader incumbent in autologous/allogeneic cell therapy for musculoskeletal indications.
• Shiseido Company: Holds exclusive Asian rights to RCH-01 and acquired Aderans; large beauty/pharmaceutical incumbent with significant dermatology and regenerative medicine exposure. Comparable as a partner in RepliCel's commercialization model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RepliCel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RepliCel
• Facebookfacebook.com/RepliCel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/replicel-life-sciences-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RepliCel Life Sciences