Emerging Pharmacotherapies for Androgenetic Alopecia

June 2026 in “ Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy ”

Akriti Agrawal, Emilee M Dreifus, Antonella Tosti

androgenetic alopecia topical androgen-receptor antagonists androgen-receptor degraders biologics prolactin receptors anagen-inducing injectables metabolic activators follicular activators thyroid hormone receptor-β agonists minoxidil rapamycin metformin AGA Rogaine

TLDR New treatments for hair loss focus on targeting specific causes to improve effectiveness and safety.

Recent advancements in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) focus on novel pharmacotherapies that target specific mechanisms involved in hair loss. These emerging therapies include topical androgen-receptor antagonists and degraders, biologics that inhibit prolactin receptors, anagen-inducing injectables, metabolic and follicular activators, thyroid hormone receptor-β agonists, and improved delivery systems for minoxidil. Additionally, modulation of longevity pathways using rapamycin and metformin is being explored. These innovations aim to enhance treatment efficacy, safety, and patient adherence, with ongoing and future clinical trials expected to clarify their roles in the management of AGA.

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27 / 27 results

research Efficacy and Safety of Topical GT20029 in Male Patients With Androgenetic Alopecia: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Study

December 2025 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

GT20029 helps regrow hair in men with hair loss and is well-tolerated.

Sublingual Minoxidil Increases Fiber Diameter in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Proxy for Reversal of Hair Follicle Miniaturization

research Sublingual Minoxidil Increases Fiber Diameter in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Proxy for Reversal of Hair Follicle Miniaturization

January 2025 in “PubMed”

Sublingual minoxidil increases hair thickness in men with hair loss.

research Sublingual Minoxidil 5 mg Versus Oral Minoxidil 5 mg for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

December 2024 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Sublingual and oral minoxidil are equally effective for hair growth, but sublingual causes fewer palpitations.

research LB1045 Inhibition of Pyruvate Oxidation Activates Human Hair Follicle Stem Cells Ex Vivo

July 2024 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

PP405 may help hair growth by activating hair follicle stem cells.

research Thyroid Receptor β: A Promising Target for Developing Novel Anti-Androgenetic Alopecia Drugs

May 2024 in “Drug discovery today”

Thyroid receptor β can help develop new drugs to treat hair loss.

research MTOR Signaling in Hair Follicle and Hair Diseases: Recent Progress

September 2023 in “Frontiers in medicine”

The mTOR signaling pathway is crucial for hair health and targeting it may lead to new hair loss treatments.

research Signaling by Senescent Melanocytes Hyperactivates Hair Growth

27 citations , June 2023 in “Nature”

Senescent melanocytes can boost hair growth by activating hair stem cells.

research MTORC1 Activity Negatively Regulates Human Hair Follicle Growth and Pigmentation

12 citations , May 2023 in “EMBO reports”

High mTORC1 activity slows hair growth and causes it to lose color.

research Efficacy of Asymmetric siRNA Targeting Androgen Receptors for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

November 2022 in “Molecular Pharmaceutics”

cp-asiAR may effectively treat androgenetic alopecia by promoting hair growth and reducing androgen receptor activity.

research Weekly Treatment with SAMiRNA Targeting the Androgen Receptor Ameliorates Androgenetic Alopecia

3 citations , January 2022 in “Scientific Reports”

A new treatment called SAMiRNA-AR68 increases hair count in people with hair loss, showing similar results to existing treatments but without side effects.

research Efficacy and Safety Profile of Oral Spironolactone Use for Androgenic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

8 citations , August 2021 in “PubMed”

Oral spironolactone effectively treats hair loss with mild, manageable side effects.

research Minoxidil: A Comprehensive Review

16 citations , June 2021 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

Minoxidil effectively treats hair loss, especially androgenetic alopecia, but needs more research for better understanding.

research Spironolactone in Dermatology: Uses in Acne, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Female Pattern Hair Loss, and Hirsutism

1 citations , September 2020 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas”

research Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil in Female Androgenetic Alopecia

14 citations , September 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Oral minoxidil improves hair density in women with androgenetic alopecia, with mild side effects.

research Safety of Oral Bicalutamide in Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Retrospective Review of 316 Patients

16 citations , March 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Oral bicalutamide is safe and effective for female hair loss.

research Oral Bicalutamide for Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Pilot Study

8 citations , October 2019 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Bicalutamide improves hair density in women safely.

A Summary of In Vitro, Phase I, and Phase II Studies Evaluating the Mechanism of Action, Safety, and Efficacy of Clascoterone (Cortexolone 17a Propionate, CB-03-01) in Androgenetic Alopecia

research A Summary of In Vitro, Phase I, and Phase II Studies Evaluating the Mechanism of Action, Safety, and Efficacy of Clascoterone (Cortexolone 17a Propionate, CB-03-01) in Androgenetic Alopecia

3 citations , August 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Clascoterone safely promotes hair growth similar to minoxidil.

research Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity Drives Hair Follicle Stem Cell Activation

202 citations , August 2017 in “Nature cell biology”

Lactate production is important for activating hair growth stem cells.

research A Neutralizing Prolactin Receptor Antibody Whose In Vivo Application Mimics the Phenotype of Female Prolactin Receptor-Deficient Mice

14 citations , August 2015 in “Endocrinology”

The antibody 005-C04 blocks prolactin receptors, causing reversible infertility, impaired lactation, and hair regrowth in female mice.

A Randomized, Active- and Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Dutasteride Versus Placebo and Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Subjects with Androgenetic Alopecia

research A Randomized, Active- and Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Dutasteride Versus Placebo and Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Subjects with Androgenetic Alopecia

97 citations , January 2014 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride 0.5 mg works better than finasteride and placebo for increasing hair in men with hair loss.

research The Effectiveness of Finasteride and Dutasteride Used for 3 Years in Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

32 citations , January 2014 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

Finasteride and dutasteride effectively stop or reverse hair loss in women with androgenetic alopecia, with dutasteride being more effective for women under 50.

Bald Scalp in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Retains Hair Follicle Stem Cells but Lacks CD200-Rich and CD34-Positive Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells

research Bald Scalp in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Retains Hair Follicle Stem Cells but Lacks CD200-Rich and CD34-Positive Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells

235 citations , January 2011 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

Men with baldness due to androgenetic alopecia still have hair stem cells, but lack specific cells needed for hair growth.

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92 citations , June 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride 0.5 mg daily improves hair growth safely in men with hair loss.

The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

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215 citations , November 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride more effective for hair growth, but has more side effects than finasteride.

Human Scalp Hair Follicles Are Both a Target and a Source of Prolactin, Which Serves as an Autocrine and/or Paracrine Promoter of Apoptosis-Driven Hair Follicle Regression

research Human Scalp Hair Follicles Are Both a Target and a Source of Prolactin, Which Serves as an Autocrine and/or Paracrine Promoter of Apoptosis-Driven Hair Follicle Regression

128 citations , March 2006 in “American Journal of Pathology”

Prolactin contributes to hair loss by promoting hair follicle shrinkage and cell death.

research Minoxidil: Mechanisms of Action on Hair Growth

397 citations , February 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil boosts hair growth by opening potassium channels and increasing cell activity.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of 5% Topical Minoxidil Versus 2% Topical Minoxidil and Placebo in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

research A Randomized Clinical Trial of 5% Topical Minoxidil Versus 2% Topical Minoxidil and Placebo in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

269 citations , August 2002 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

5% minoxidil works better for hair growth and density, with minor irritation.