GSK scientists make baldness discovery

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) scientists have identified a pair of genetic variants which together create a sevenfold increase in the risk of male pattern baldness, it has been reported.

Researchers from the firm worked together with staff from King’s College London and McGill University in Canada and their results will be published in the journal Nature Genetics.

The scientists conducted a genome-wide association study of 1,125 men who had been assessed in terms of male pattern baldness and found two previously unknown genetic variants on chromosome 20.

According to the researchers, these variants substantially increase the risk of male pattern baldness.

Findings were then confirmed on an additional 1,650 men.

“I would presume male pattern baldness is caused by the same genetic variation in non-caucasians, but we haven’t studied those populations, so we can’t say for certain,” comments Dr Brent Richards from McGill.

Meanwhile, GSK recently announced the publication of a study showing work to eliminate lymphatic filariasis has seen more than 500 million people receive treatment.