These new therapies may be a game-changer for hair loss
Industry Buzz
I’m excited about next-generation JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata, low-dose oral minoxidil protocols, topical androgen-targeted agents in development for androgenetic alopecia, [and] optimized PRP methods and combination regimens.
—Adam Friedman, MD, professor and chair of dermatology at George Washington University
This [therapy] is one of many hopeful treatments for the future. It takes many years before these novel or new therapies can prove patient safety, tolerability, and efficacy.
—Ken Williams Jr, DO, surgeon and founder of Orange County Hair Restoration
Hair loss affects millions of people and has a significant impact on quality of life. [] So, what’s coming down the pipeline in treatments for hair regrowth? Experts say there are a few things to be excited about.
“I’m excited about next-generation JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata, low-dose oral minoxidil protocols, topical androgen-targeted agents in development for androgenetic alopecia, [and] optimized PRP methods and combination regimens,” Adam Friedman, MD, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at George Washington University, tells MDLinx.
JAK inhibitors
JAK inhibitors are being touted as life changing for patients with alopecia areata. The first JAK inhibitor was FDA approved for skin conditions in 2021. But since then, drugs have also been approved for hair loss. []
In clinical trials of baricitinib (Olumiant), roughly a third of patients with severe alopecia areata had hair regrowth of 80% or more of the scalp, and some were able to regrow eyebrows and eyelashes. []
Deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi) is another FDA approved JAK inhibitor with promise. In clinical trials in people who had lost 50% or more of the hair on their head, 30% of patients had 80% or more hair coverage of their scalp at 24 weeks, and 25% had the majority of the hair on their scalp regrow. []
Related: The one pill that treats hair loss, heart failure, and moreLow-dose oral minoxidil
Minoxidil is a common treatment option in hair loss, and off-label prescription of low-dose oral minoxidil is increasing in popularity. []
Research suggests that this may be both a safe and effective option for patients dealing with hair loss. However, large-scale trials are still needed, and standardized guidelines are lacking. []
Androgen-targeted agents
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of alopecia. Antiandrogen treatments work by inhibiting the impact of androgens, which are one of the main contributors to AGA. Antiandrogens can be given orally, topically, or by injection. []
Oral antiandrogens finasteride and dutasteride have both shown promise. New topical antiandrogens, as well as new formulations of oral antiandrogens that already exist, are in development, but results of clinical trials so far have been unremarkable. []
Related: Going gray? New research shows promise for preventive treatmentsPP405
Another innovation making waves in the hair regrowth world is PP405, a therapy for androgenetic alopecia. []
“This is one of many hopeful treatments for the future. It takes many years before these novel or new therapies can prove patient safety, tolerability, and efficacy,” says Ken Williams Jr, DO, FISHRS, ABHRS, surgeon and founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, CA.
The therapy is designed to reactivate dormant stem cells in hair follicles. Stage 2 clinical trials showed promising results, with 31% of those who received the treatment experiencing a 20% increase in hair density at eight weeks []
Dr. Friedman is cautiously optimistic.
“Phase 2 success is promising, but the real test is Phase 3 … larger, longer, and more diverse populations. We have been burned by good Phase 2 studies before," Dr. Friedman says.
If efficacy and safety hold, PP405 could be a valuable addition, particularly for patients unable or unwilling to take systemic therapies, and may complement existing options like minoxidil and hormonal approaches, he emphasizes.
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