Hair loss is one of the most frustrating beauty concerns across the gender spectrum, and up until now, there have only been a handful of tried-and-tested medications on the market to address it. In 1997, the FDA approved oral finasteride (aka Propecia) for hair loss treatment in men, and since the 2010s, many doctors have prescribed oral minoxidil and spironolactone for off-label use (both are approved for hypertension treatment). Other than a few non-FDA-approved supplements (although hair care brands are launching new formulas at an increasingly rapid rate, despite somewhat lackluster clinical testing) that's pretty much the extent of the current hair loss medicine options. But that's all about to change.
Veradermics, a biopharmaceutical company based in Connecticut, announced last week that it would begin phase three trials to obtain FDA approval for a new hair loss drug, currently named VDPHL01. It would be the first extended-release oral minoxidil treatment (topical minoxidil is the active ingredient in the popular Rogaine product line) as opposed to oral minoxidil's current off-label use, and the first FDA-approved oral treatment designed to regrow hair in both men and women. In other words, this is a big freaking deal, especially considering up to 50% of men and women will experience progressive hair loss and thinning (known as androgenetic alopecia) in their lifetime.
