Men going bald turn to 'new Botox' for hair loss treatment

In a 2023 clinical trial, researchers found that applying PP405 as a topical medicine to the scalp at bedtime showed statistically significant results.

They believe this treatment will produce full ‘terminal’ hair rather than the peach fuzz variety.

William Lowry, Ph.D., a co-researcher at UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center, said that although this research is promising, “cure is a strong word.”

“There are only two FDA-approved treatments for androgenetic alopecia (AGA, or pattern baldness): minoxidil and finasteride,” he explained. “They are both limited in efficacy and improve hair in only a portion of patients who take them.”

Written by Angelica Stabile Fox News  https://www.foxnews.com/health/men-going-bald-turn-new-botox-hair-loss-treatment

Other treatment options include supplements, red light therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and hair transplantation, although these have not undergone definitive clinical trials and can be expensive, time-consuming, and limited in effectiveness.

Lowry added, “None of these are curative, meaning none of them permanently restore all hair lost due to AGA.”

His team discovered that hair follicle stem cells have a distinct metabolism from other cells in the follicle.

“We found that promoting this metabolism can accelerate stem cell activation, which makes new hairs grow. We subsequently developed drugs that can drive this effect in various models of hair loss that reflect the multifactorial drivers of androgenetic alopecia in patients,” Lowry said.

PP405 has become the leading candidate for hair-loss treatment as part of this new class of drugs.

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring a novel treatment option to patients with hair loss based on strong science and rigorous clinical trials. Additionally, because the mechanism of action we discovered is distinct from previous approaches, it can potentially be used in combination with other therapies.”

Brendan Camp, M.D., a Manhattan-based dermatologist, said that hair loss is a condition that “affects many and can have a negative impact on people’s psychosocial health.” Identifying a potential new treatment is therefore “an exciting step for patients and providers in the management of what can otherwise be a difficult condition to treat.”

‘New Botox’

Camp agreed there is an unmet need for hair-loss treatment and noted the growing interest in providing solutions and offering hair restoration services more widely.

As cosmetic injections such as Botox and fillers have remained popular anti-aging and beauty treatments, hair-loss and restoration clinics are increasingly surfacing nationwide. These clinics offer a variety of services for both men and women.

Dr. Amy Spizuoco, DO, of True Dermatology in New York, referred to these new balding treatments as the “new Botox.”

“With advances in treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, PRP therapy, hair transplants, and the latest stem cell research, hair restoration has become more accessible and effective,” she explained.

“And much like Botox is used preventatively, younger people are tackling hair loss at the first signs rather than waiting until it’s severe.”

Camp added that while there are many hair-loss treatment options available, responses will vary for each individual.

“When looking for a treatment, stick to those with a well-established body of evidence and data to support their use, such as minoxidil, finasteride, and spironolactone (in the case of female-pattern hair loss),” he advised.