Do You Think A Better Hair Loss Drug Will Be Approved Within the Next 10 Years?

Hi,

I’ve written before and have another question. Do you think within the next ten years there will be a new hair loss drug that supplants Propecia as the go-to non-surgical option, or is FDA approved Dutasteride (for hair loss) the only new, clinically proven product you see on the horizon?

Thanks

Dutasteride (marketed as Avodart) is being used by many men, prescribed by some doctors to treat hair loss despite the absence of FDA clearance. In the phase 3 dutasteride study done in Korea, there was no mention of sperm or sterility. This is a concern to me, and I do not believe that this drug will be approved for treating hair loss until issues like that are studied further. That’s my opinion, and I’m sure I’ll get plenty of emails from people telling me how I’m wrong or I’m narrow minded about this medication. Ultimately, going to market is in the hands of the drug company that manufactures it. I am reluctant to prescribe dutasteride, because without clinical clearance from the FDA, I do not know the risk of sterility for those taking the drug for their MPB treatment.

As for other new hair loss drugs… I am not familiar with anything in the short term pipeline of 5 years, so it seems 10 years may be enough for us to hope and short enough for us to wait. Propecia should be off patent in the 1mg finasteride dosage in the US in a few years, so once generics are available in local pharmacies I’d imagine it would cut into their profits. I’m sure the drug companies will want to have a newer product out before then to keep their shareholders happy.