New Treatment Shows Promising Results in Hair Growth Trial

More than 50 million men in the U.S. deal with hair loss, but the solutions haven’t kept their promise. Many treatments are inconvenient, inconsistent, or both. That’s why a new pill currently in phase 3 trials is getting attention: it aims to simplify your routine while delivering better results. For men tired of the usual options, it could be a turning point.

In a study of about 500 participants, 86 percent saw noticeable hair regrowth, according to preliminary data. The results were shared by the company and have not yet been peer-reviewed.

Maryanne Makredes Senna, MD of Beth Israel Lahey Health, Harvard Medical School, has been seeing patients for hair loss.

“Unless you’ve lost your hair, it’s hard to appreciate just how impactful how hair loss can be for people. It’s so tied to our identities, youth, fitness, and health,” Dr. Senna said in a presentation about the current trial results.

“Current treatments fall short of patient expectations,” she said. This aims to simplify treatment and offer a more convenient option.

The Big Idea: New Formulation of Minoxidil

At the center of the company’s pitch is VDPHL01, an experimental oral drug currently in late-stage clinical trials. It’s based on minoxidil, the same active ingredient found in many over-the-counter hair growth treatments, but developed into an extended-release pill.

But the real innovation isn’t just convenience. Veradermics says its formulation is designed to deliver steady levels of the drug in the body, avoiding the spikes that can lead to side effects while keeping hair follicles in a growth-friendly state longer.

Nearing FDA Approval

The drug is in a phase 3 stage, the final stage before potential approval by the FDA, with multiple large studies underway.

Researchers say the extended-release formulation may help reduce side effects by avoiding spikes in drug levels, though long-term safety is still being studied.

It’s still early. The drug isn’t approved yet, and plenty of promising treatments don’t make it through the final stages. But the idea of a convenient, effective oral treatment for hair loss is compelling enough that it’s worth watching.

If it works, it could finally bring hair loss treatment into the modern era.