A new hair loss treatment that claims to work more effectively than current products on the market by both slowing alopecia and encouraging regrowth is in development.
Hair loss, also called alopecia, impacts tens of millions of people in the United States, with roughly 80 million individuals suffering from baldness — the most common type of hair loss.
Baldness or genetic hair loss — called androgenic alopecia — refers to hair loss at the scalp level caused by the thinning and size reduction of hair follicles. It is particularly common among men between the ages of 19 and 70, affecting more than 50% of Caucasian men in their 50s. Women are also affected by the condition, though it is much more prevalent after menopause.
Dermatologist-formulated to stop thinning and shedding, this once-a-day treatment uses clinically proven regrowth ingredients for all hair types.
In addition to androgenic alopecia, there are a number of types of hair loss, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
This includes alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss from the head and body; telogen effluvium, which occurs when a stressful event or hormonal change causes the rapid shedding of hair; and anagen effluvium, which is caused by medical treatments such as chemotherapy. Thyroid conditions, nutrient deficiencies, and certain hairstyles and treatments can also cause hair loss.
All told, hair loss affects many people. While it may not be life-threatening or particularly dangerous, it can be deeply emotional for some people, potentially impacting an individual’s confidence and self-esteem. As a result, hair loss treatments are always in demand, but the currently available options don’t always work.
In an effort to improve available treatment options for those who suffer from androgenic alopecia specifically, researchers at Triple Hair Inc. have developed a new topical therapy to help slow hair loss and induce hair growth using three ingredients: minoxidil, finasteride, and a prostaglandin analogue.
“This innovative triple combination therapy promotes hair regrowth in men with androgenic alopecia,” the company says on its website. “Its exclusive combination of molecules acts at various stages of the hair growth cycle to stop hair loss and stimulate regrowth, while also making hair appear thicker.”
The company filed a patent application for the new prescription hair loss treatment, called Therapy 7, in 2021, and it was published in August of 2024.
More than the sum of its parts
According to the patent application, the composition of these three ingredients “shows superior improvements to those seen for each of the components of the composition taken individually,” and the company says the results thus far suggest the improvements may also be superior to those of the sum of the components.
“As a hair surgeon, this patent application for a hair loss treatment combining minoxidil, finasteride, and a prostaglandin analogue is particularly interesting,” Ross Kopelman, MD, a hair transplant surgeon at Kopelman Hair Restoration who treats many patients with hair loss, tells Healthnews. “The blend of 2% to 5% minoxidil with 0.01% to 15% finasteride and a prostaglandin analogue represents an approach that targets hair loss from multiple angles.”
The first ingredient, minoxidil, is already commonly used in hair loss products. It is known for its ability to stimulate hair regrowth by improving blood flow to the hair follicles, Kopelman explains.
Minoxidil has been widely used since the 1990s in topical form at 2% concentration (without a prescription) and at 3% and 5% concentration (with a prescription), and it’s considered the topical gold standard for treating hair loss.
Studies do demonstrate that the 5% minoxidil concentration is more effective than the 2% concentration, but minoxidil is less than 40% effective in promoting hair regrowth on its own.
Finasteride is a well-known DHT blocker, meaning it reduces the production of the hormone dihydrotestosterone. Kopelman says this ingredient slows down the process of androgenic alopecia.
Currently, finasteride is administered orally, usually at a dosage of 1 mg per day, but there are a number of side effects associated with taking it orally. This includes lowered libido, impotence, ejaculation disorders, allergic reactions, testicular pain, male infertility, male breast cancer, and depression. At higher concentrations, such as 5 mg per day, finasteride can cause benign prostate hyperplasia.
Prostaglandin analogues, meanwhile, have been explored in products for eyelash growth. While this class of drugs is typically used to treat glaucoma and high eye pressure, it has been shown to induce eyelash growth as a side effect.
One prostaglandin analogue, Bimatoprost, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, a condition where an individual has an unusually low number of eyelash hairs.
Kopelman said this third ingredient introduces a new dimension to hair loss treatment by potentially enhancing hair regrowth on the scalp.
It's important to note that the combination of ingredients in this product may yield different results compared to each ingredient used individually, and may not be associated with the same type or level of side effects. Completion of full clinical testing is necessary to determine the final outcomes, including the overall effects, benefits, and any potential side effects of the complete formulation.
What this drug could mean for people with genetic hair loss
According to the company’s website, researchers are soon planning to initiate Phase III clinical trials of this drug in Canada and the U.S. In the first two phases of clinical trials, the company says 82% of participants experienced positive results that ranged from moderate to dense hair growth.
While the drug has only been tested on male individuals to date, the patent application states that similar results are expected from female individuals as the mechanism of hair growth is the same for both sexes.
“Compared to existing products, this combination aims to provide a more comprehensive solution by addressing multiple pathways of hair loss, which could increase efficacy, especially for patients who haven’t responded well to single-agent treatments,” Kopelman says. “My initial impression is that this could be promising for people with advanced hair loss who need a more robust treatment option.”
It is not yet known if this drug will be available on the market nor when, as it has yet to receive any approvals, but Kopelman says it could potentially be an effective solution for those with androgenic alopecia if it does eventually reach the market.
“If made available, this could offer a more convenient, single-formula solution for patients, potentially reducing the need to use multiple products,” Kopelman says. “However, clinical trials and real-world results will be crucial in determining its safety, tolerability, and effectiveness.”
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