Hair loss has been at the forefront of everyone’s mind since COVID-19. Scalp serums, hair supplements, hair-growth shampoos, massage tools, LED devices—the industry is booming. But what hasn’t necessarily caught up? Prescription options with significant data proving how they work for reversing hair loss. But the wait might finally be over.
Veradermics, a biopharmaceutical company, is developing a new drug: VDPHL01, an extended-release oral minoxidil designed specifically for androgenetic alopecia (also known as male- and female-pattern hair loss), the most common form of hair loss. A drug hasn’t been approved for this specific type of hair loss since 1997. And there are still no FDA-approved oral medications for hair loss in women.
Topical minoxidil, which can be prescribed at high doses or purchased over the counter (Rogaine being the most popular), can help regrow hair. Still, there are drawbacks, says Los Angeles-based dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD. It’s sticky, messy, and requires twice-daily application. Currently, oral minoxidil hasn’t been approved to treat pattern hair loss.
Oral minoxidil, which you can get from your doctor, can definitely help hair grow, but not just on your head, as it can increase growth everywhere on your body.
Minoxidil was initially created for high blood pressure, not hair loss, says Dr. Shamban. The immediate-release formula goes into your bloodstream and works fast (usually in one hour), but it clears from your system in about four hours. “But the hair follicle needs longer exposure,” she says. Veradermics created VDPHL01 using a proprietary extended-release technology to extend how long the minoxidil impacts your hair follicles. This could potentially lead to more consistent, even faster hair growth.
The first clinical trial data were just released with really promising results. They evaluated 519 men with mild-to-moderate pattern hair loss for six months in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. They detected hair growth by month two, and by month six, they measured an average increase of 30 to 33 hairs per square centimeter. All trials are still ongoing, including a trial that will finally evaluate the effects of VDPHL01’s effects on women.
That said, there’s still a long way before VDPHL01 gets approved. But the idea that something is finally coming, especially for women, has editors and doctors buzzing.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
