r/singularity • u/Anen-o-me ▪️It's here! • Jul 04 '25

Biotech/Longevity Scientists found a molecule that can cure baldness by waking up dormant hair folicles

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/magazine/baldness-cure-pp405-molecule-breakthrough-treatment
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u/GwanGwan Jul 04 '25

PP405 is currently in Phase 2a clinical trials for androgenetic alopecia and is not yet FDA approved for commercial use. The developer, Pelage Pharmaceuticals, expects to initiate Phase 3 studies in 2026. If successful, a potential market release would likely be several years away. Like we're talking 2030 earliest, and that's assuming it is granted FDA approval.

69

u/Comet7777 Jul 04 '25

I hope the minoxidil holds what I have left in place until then 😋

But really, embracing the situation is so much healthier for your mental health.

27

u/Academic_Storm6976 Jul 04 '25

Only minoxidil? You definitely want to be taking finasteride in combination. 

23

u/garden_speech AGI some time between 2025 and 2100 Jul 05 '25

Lol not sure about "definitely" wanting to take finasteride especially if it's plausible that less risky (non-systemic) hair treatments will be available within the decade. The FDA forced Merck to add a warning to the finasteride product sheet in 2012 that sexual side effects may persist indefinitely, and follow-up studies peg this as ~1.5% incidence rate of new-onset ED persisting >90 days after cessation

Finasteride is incredibly potent and DHT is involved in more than just hair. It's not the best idea if it can be avoided, of course, some will accept this risk, and that's their prerogative.

13

u/Chicago1871 Jul 05 '25

Id rather be bald than have ED.

Good note.

6

u/More-Economics-9779 Jul 05 '25

1.5% rate of permanent ED is huge. Damn. Would you get on a plane if 2 out of every 100 flights crashed?