Erlangen, Germany, July 15, 2025 – Mallia Innovations GmbH, driving the development and commercialization of biopharmaceutical therapies targeting hair loss and wound healing as well as cosmetic applications for hair growth, today announced the establishment of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). This newly formed board brings together five internationally recognized experts in hair biology, dermatology, translational research, clinical development, and biotech innovation to provide strategic guidance for the further development of Mallia’s sCD83-based candidates.

The following individuals were appointed: Prof. Dr. Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, Dr. Claire A. Higgins, Dr. Gillian Westgate, Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh, and Prof. Dr. Franklin Kiesewetter.

Prof. Alexander Steinkasserer, Co-founder and Managing Director of Mallia Innovations, commented: “We are delighted to welcome five outstanding experts to our Scientific Advisory Board. Their deep expertise will be instrumental as we are navigating the complex intersection of science, clinical, and cosmetic development. We are looking forward to strategic discussions enriched by their different perspectives and experiences. This comes at an ideal time as we are advancing our research and clinical development and introducing our science-based cosmetic products that address hair growth to the market.”

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, is a world-leading expert in hair growth and skin care with over 35 years of experience and more than 370 scientific publications. She is Director of the Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science at Charité Berlin and a specialist in dermatology and allergology. She has led numerous clinical studies from Phase I–III on androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA) and is editor of the “Textbook on Hair Growth and Disorders”. She is also a founding member of the European Hair Research Society (EHRS) and an active member of several other international professional societies. Prof. Dr. Blume-Peytavi completed her medical degree at the Freie Universität Berlin.

Dr. Claire A. Higgins, Imperial College London, is a leading research expert in the field of hair follicle development, with more than 50 publications and over 15 years of research experience in the field. As Associate Professor in Tissue Regeneration at the Imperial College London, she leads research into regeneration using hair follicles as a model system. Dr. Higgins is president of the European Hair Research Society and is involved in various scientific committees, including the Royal Society Research Grants Committee, the Alopecia UK Research Committee, and the British Skin Foundation Large Grants Committee. She is also vice president of the Institute of Trichologists. Claire received her doctorate from Durham University.

Dr. Gillian Westgate, University of Bradford, has over 35 years of experience in research and industry in the field of hair biology. She worked at Unilever Research in the UK, where she played a key role in establishing the Scalp & Hair Biology research program, which she led for many years. Today, she serves as an honorary lecturer at the University of Bradford. She is a former president of the European Hair Research Society, a member of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists, and co-founder and Director of the British industry association Cosmetics Cluster UK. Gill has a BSc Hons in Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD in hair biology research from Utrecht University.

Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh is an internationally experienced entrepreneur with a focus on hair growth. Currently, he is a board member of Legacy Healthcare, which he helped found. He was also President and CEO of Phio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PHIO; formerly RXi Pharma) and a member of the Board of Directors of Ablynx. He was Vice President of R&D at the Johnson & Johnson Skin Research Center (USA) and Vice President of Product Development at J&J Consumer. Dr. Cauwenbergh is the author of over 100 publications and co-editor/editor of five textbooks. He has been inducted into the New Jersey Biotech Hall of Fame. He received his Doctorate in Medical Sciences from the Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Medicine (Belgium).

Prof. Dr. med. Franklin Kiesewetter has over four decades of expertise in dermatology, histology, and hair follicle pathology and is a leading clinician and researcher in the field of alopecia. He was head of andrology and histology at the Department of Dermatology at Erlangen University Hospital for almost 30 years and head of a dermatology practice at the Bamberg Social Foundation. In addition to treating countless patients suffering from alopecia, he was engaged in basic and applied research in hair growth and has been involved in numerous clinical studies and is intensively engaged in the immunological basis of hair growth. He received is medical doctorate from the Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg

With a two-pronged development approach of sCD83-based proteins through Mallia Therapeutics and Mallia Aesthetics, Mallia is advancing both clinical solutions for patients suffering from hair loss as well as cosmetic solutions for stimulating hair growth. The establishment of its Scientific Advisory Board further positions the company at the forefront of science-based product development in the hair biology field, with leading experts supporting the mission to bring effective new care options as well as therapies to people.

Please find more information on our Scientific Advisory Board here and contact us for photos.

About sCD83

Soluble CD83 (sCD83) is an immunomodulatory protein that is currently being developed for the topical treatment of hair loss (MAL‑856) and stimulation of hair growth (MAL‑838). The soluble CD83 protein was first identified in 2001 by Mallia co-founder Prof. Steinkasserer. It has anti-inflammatory properties via the induction of resolution of inflammation, which promotes wound healing and induces new hair growth.[1] In addition, sCD83 has been shown to activate regulatory T cells (Tregs)[2], which interact directly with hair follicles and can activate them.[3] Furthermore, sCD83 inhibits cell death of hair follicles and directly activates follicular stem cells, thereby stimulating new hair growth. This multimodal mode of action distinguishes sCD83 from other topically applied hair growth agents.

Topically applied, sCD83 can directly reach the hair follicles but does not penetrate through the skin and thus does not enter the bloodstream. The effect is localized, which is a major advantage over systemic treatment options, which can cause severe side effects.

About hair loss

Hormone-related hair loss in men and women (androgenetic alopecia, or AGA) is the most common form of hair loss. Worldwide, more than 70% of men and 50% of women post menopause are affected by androgenetic alopecia. Another 147 million people suffer from immune-related, circular hair loss (alopecia areata, or AA[4],[5]).

Androgenetic alopecia usually progresses gradually and is due to genetic and hormonal factors. In men, it often leads to a receding hairline and baldness on the top of the head, while in women it causes thinning hair in the parting area. Alopecia areata causes circular hair loss on the scalp, face or other parts of the body. It occurs when the immune system erroneously attacks hair follicles, leading to immune-mediated hair loss.

About Mallia

Mallia Innovations GmbH, based in Erlangen, Germany, is the holding company strategically driving the proprietary development and commercialization of biopharmaceutical therapies and cosmetic applications of the immune modulatory sCD83 protein, targeting hair growth, hair loss and other dermatological indications, including wound healing.

Mallia Therapeutics GmbH focuses on the clinical development of novel therapies for patients suffering from androgenetic alopecia or alopecia areata, among other conditions.  MAL-856 is based on the scientifically proven immune modulatory mode of action of sCD83, which has been investigated for close to 25 years by Mallia Co‑founder Prof. Dr Alexander Steinkasserer.[6]

Mallia Aesthetics GmbH focuses on cosmetic applications for the stimulation of hair growth, which are also based on the scientifically validated sCD83 protein. The Company develops Innovative cosmetic products using MAL-838 that will be marketed to specialists and consumers.

For more information, visit www.mallia.com, follow us on LinkedIn.

Mallia Contact:
Mallia Innovations GmbH
info@mallia.com

International media contact:
MC Services AG
Dr. Regina Lutz / Katja Arnold
Tel.: +49 (0)89 210 228 0
E-Mail: mallia@mc-services.eu

Download:
20250715_Scientific_Advisory_Board.pdf

[1] Royzman, D., Peckert-Maier, K., Stich, L., König, C., Wild, A. B., Tauchi, M., ... & Steinkasserer, A. (2022). Soluble CD83 improves and accelerates wound healing by the induction of pro-resolving macrophages. Frontiers in Immunology, 13, 1012647. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1012647

[2] Bock, F., Rössner, S., Onderka, J., Lechmann, M., Pallotta, M. T., Fallarino, F., ... & Zinser, E. (2013). Topical application of soluble CD83 induces IDO-mediated immune modulation, increases Foxp3+ T cells, and prolongs allogeneic corneal graft survival. The Journal of Immunology, 191(4), 1965-1975. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201531

[3] Ali, N., Zirak, B., Rodriguez, R. S., Pauli, M. L., Truong, H. A., Lai, K., ... & Rosenblum, M. D. (2017). Regulatory T cells in skin facilitate epithelial stem cell differentiation. Cell, 169(6), 1119-1129. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.002

[4] Feinstein, R. P. (2022). Androgenetic alopecia.: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1070167-overview

[5] Mostaghimi, A., Gandhi, K., Done, N., Ray, M., Gao, W., Carley, C., ... & Sikirica, V. (2022). All-cause health care resource utilization and costs among adults with alopecia areata: A retrospective claims database study in the United States. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 28(4), 426-434: DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.4.426

[6] Lechmann, M., Krooshoop, D. J., Dudziak, D., Kremmer, E., Kuhnt, C., Figdor, C. G., ... & Steinkasserer, A. (2001). The extracellular domain of CD83 inhibits dendritic cell–mediated T cell stimulation and binds to a ligand on dendritic cells. The Journal of experimental medicine, 194(12), 1813-1821. DOI: 10.1084/jem.194.12.1813