If your hair is thinning and falling out in clumps as you age, and your hairline is receding, then this news is no less than a boon for you. The results of trials of a new drug designed to fight baldness have recently been released, and these results have caused a stir throughout the medical world. Scientists say that this drug has shown excellent results in preventing male pattern baldness and growing new hair. Cosmo Pharmaceuticals claims that in some patients, the drug was 539% more effective in producing new hair than a placebo (a pill containing no active ingredients). Yes, you read that right, 539%! This data itself shows how effective this medicine can be.
Why does baldness occur in men?
Male pattern baldness, or AGA (Androgenetic Alopecia), is primarily caused by a hormone called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). This hormone gradually weakens the hair follicles, causing the hair to become thin and eventually stop growing. Currently, there are several options available, such as minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplant, but these do not work for everyone. These are also quite expensive and may have side effects.
Clescoterone: A New Topical Treatment
The name of the medicine which is being discussed nowadays is Clascoterone 5%. It is a topical solution that is applied directly to the scalp. Its specialty is that it stops DHT before it reaches the hair follicles. This means that the effect of the medicine is limited to the scalp only, and has little effect on the rest of the body. This is the reason why this medicine is considered safer than older treatments.
What were the results of the trial?
In two large clinical trials conducted on approximately 1,400-1,500 men, the drug showed very effective results. In the first trial, people who took claskoterone had 539% more hair growth compared to the placebo group, while the second trial saw 168% more new hair growth. The company says that hair growth was also seen in many men with early stage baldness. The best thing is that this medicine was found to be quite safe. Most people had no problems taking it, and the few side effects that occurred were not due to the drug. This means that this medicine is effective and the body digests it easily.
A new hope after 30 years
Clescoterone has already received FDA approval in 2020 for the treatment of facial acne. Now, the company is completing its 12-month safety data and will seek official approval for the hair loss treatment in the US and Europe next year. If approved, it would be the first new treatment for hair loss in 30 years, and the finding is particularly important given that 50% of men experience some degree of baldness by the age of 50.