Hair Loss Cure 2020

Kintor Pharma Pyrilutamide (KX-826) — Kintor Pharmaceutical Pyrilutamide (KX-826).

Kintor Pharmaceutical: KX-826 and GT20029 for Androgenetic Alopecia

My original post on Kintor Pharmaceutical (China) has become way too lengthy after so many updates. So I will now add all new developments in this post (scroll down below this intro section).

This rapidly moving well funded company is in Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials in the US and China for both its male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) products. Kintor (pipeline here) is conducting hair loss trials for:

Two separate androgen receptor (AR) targeting products: a degrader (GT20029) and an antagonist (KX-826 aka Pyrilutamide).
Each of these trials is being conducted in both China and the US.
Each of these products is being tested for both males and females with androgenetic alopecia (aka pattern hair loss).

i.e., a total of 8 types of clinical trials times 3 phases in each = 24 developments we have to track. A bit too much if all of these do end up taking place, but a most welcome development. Over one-half of these 24 potential trials are already finished.

The GT20029 product is an androgen receptor degrader (AR Degrader). It is developed using Kintor’s proprietary Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) platform. This is the world’s first topical androgen receptor (AR) compound (AR-PROTAC) to enter clinical trials. GT20029 degrades the AR protein via the E3 ubiquitin ligase pathway. During preclinical studies, GT20029 did not cause any notable side effects or systemic drug accumulation.
Kintor’s main product for treating male pattern hair loss is KX-826 (Pyrilutamide) and is an androgen receptor antagonist (AR Antagonist). KX-826 is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials in both China and the US per the pipeline chart. In China, these trials are now completed.

Note that Cassiopea’s Breezula (Clascoterone) is an AR antagonist that is also currently in Phase 3 trials in the US. Kintor’s website has an interesting article discussing both these competing AR antagonist products and hair loss.

Make sure to also read my related past post on destroying the androgen receptor to reverse hair loss.

Update: April 22, 2024

Positive Update on GT20029 Phase 2 Clinical Trial

Kintor Pharmaceutical just announced that its China Phase II clinical trial of its first-in-class androgen receptor (AR) proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compound GT20029 for treating androgenetic alopecia has reached the primary endpoint. The results are statistically significant and clinically meaningful, while safety and tolerability is good.

GT20029 demonstrated statistically significant efficacy compared to placebo in both the QD (once a day) and BIW (twice a week) dosing cohorts.

- After 12 weeks of treatment, the 0.5% QD GT20029 group showed an increase of 16.80 hairs/cm² from baseline. This was 6.69 hairs/cm² more than the placebo group.
- The total area hair count (TAHC) of GT20029 1.0% BIW group showed an increase of 11.94 hairs/cm² from baseline. This was 7.36 hairs/cm² more than the placebo.
- The 1% BIW dosage of GT20029 was identified as the optimal dosing level and has been recommended for the phase III clinical trial in China.

Key Quote:

“Based on the results of the Phase II clinical trial, the company will actively deploy subsequent clinical strategies for GT20029, such as initiating a phase III clinical trial in China and a phase II clinical trial in the US for male AGA.”

Update: February 1, 2024

Clinical Trial of KX-826 and Minoxidil

Kintor Pharma is undertaking clinical trials for two different androgen receptor targeting hair loss products (KX-826 and GT20029); in two countries (US and China); and for both males and females.

Now comes news that Kintor will also undertake Phase 1b/III clinical trials of KX-826 in combination with minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The trial was just cleared by the National Medical Products Administration in China.

Update: November 27, 2023

Maybe Bad News for KX-826 Phase 3 Trial Results

According to this Reddit source, the results of the Chinese Phase 3 trials for KX-826 (aka Pyrilutamide) were ok, but not good enough. There were no serious adverse events or side effects. And positive hair growth was observed when compared to baseline (at all visit points) after 24 weeks. However, compared with the placebo group, the total area hair count (TAHC) improvement in the KX-826 treated group had no statistical significance. Albeit there was a “trend in efficacy observed”.

On a positive note, Kintor plans to continue with its multiple KX-826 related trials (in the US and China) for the topical treatment of androgenetic alopecia. I appreciate the speed with which the company released these findings. I expect there will be an official press release in the next few days. Edit: Seems like this never happened?

November 18, 2023

Phase 3 Trials for KX-826 (Pyrilutamide)

KX-826 (Pyrilutamide) is currently in the most advanced stage and has a good chance of coming to market in China by the end of 2024. In Kintor’s pipeline page, it is shown to be in the final stage of Phase 3 trials for men in China; and early stage of Phase 3 trials for men in the US. Moreover, it is also in the early stage of Phase 3 trials for women in China.

Kintor is also undertaking a second Phase 3 trial in China for long-term safety of KX-826, which I discussed in detail in my original post. Even more exciting, one my Chinese readers sent me the below partial translation of a new October 2023 presentation by Kintor. He said that his English is not good, but I only changed a few words that were confusing or out of place.

“KX-826 is a topical androgen receptor (AR) antagonist independently developed by Pioneer Pharmaceutical. It is the first AR antagonist in the world to enter phase III clinical trials for the treatment of hair loss. KX-826 binds the AR by competing with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to locally block androgen-mediated signaling to limit hair follicle miniaturization and promote peripheral hair growth. After reaching the circulatory system, KX-826 is rapidly metabolized into inactivated metabolites, which has little influence on the whole body AR signaling pathway and has good safety.
The Phase II clinical trial in China included 120 men with hair loss. Of these, 90 subjects were randomly assigned to KX-826 0.25% twice daily, KX-826 0.5% once daily, and KX-826 0.5%, and the remaining 30 subjects were randomly assigned to placebo. After 24 weeks of treatment, the 0.5% concentration group of KX-826 showed a significant improvement in the amount of non-vellus hair in the target area. An increase of 22.73 roots per square centimeter compared to baseline.
Finally, news about Phase III: KX-826 is currently in or planned for five Phase III clinical trials (two in China and three in the United States). Among them, the Chinese Phase III clinical trial of KX-826 for male alopecia has completed the last subject visit, and the company is making full efforts to promote the data collation, library un-blinding and data statistical analysis of this clinical trial.”

Phase 2 Trials for GT2009

In Kintor’s August 22, 2023 update, they announced the completion of patient enrollment in Phase II clinical trials of GT20029 for male pattern hair loss in China. The current pipeline shows that these trials are almost over in China, and close to beginning in the US.

Bald by Stuart Heritage — “Bald” by Stuart Heritage.

Shaving it all Off

Once in a while, I tell readers of this blog to shave their head and test it out in case they find acceptance. Most people look better than they think when their scalp is entirely hairless. And it is surely more comfortable than a combover, especially in inclement weather.

When he was in his early 20s, my brother-in-law shaved his head within weeks of realizing that he was starting to lose his hair. He has a decisive mindset and never looked back. On YouTube, the Baldcafe channel is very popular amongst men who are contemplating or going through with shaving their heads for the first time.

For women, the most popular recommendation (and choice) seems to be wearing a wig or hairpiece after shaving it all off. However, some women do decide to go for the completely barren look, and it requires tremendous confidence.

In any event, like myself, most regular readers of this blog will likely never shave their head. At least not till old age. We will go through decades of trying various medications and hair loss products, while hoping for the ultimate cure to finally arrive. In my case, I also do not like the idea of shaving my head every week once I begin, since I have OCD tendencies.

Bald by Stuart Heritage

Earlier today, the Guardian’s Simon Usborne published an interesting new book review. The book is called “Bald” and the UK-based author is another Guardian writer named Stuart Heritage. On Amazon, it says that the hardback version will be released on November 5, 2024. However, the e-book version can be delivered to your Kindle on April 25, 2024 when it is released.

The elongated version of the title is:

Bald: How I Slowly Learned to Not Hate Having No Hair (And You Can Too).

From the Guardian book review, it mentions that Mr. Heritage applies the Kübler-Ross model of grief to his hair loss:

Denial.
Anger.
Bargaining.
Depression.
Acceptance.

I laughed at reading the term “Regaine years” (aka Minoxidil brand “Rogaine” in the US), when the author tried to preserve his surviving hair in a “zombified state”. Haven’t we all been there before. I wonder if the author ever tried Finasteride, Dutasteride, wearing caps or a hairpiece?

Also of interest, Mr. Heritage wrote a column in the Guardian just three days ago that was titled: “Losing my hair made me miserable. Now I’m as bald as an egg, I couldn’t be happier.” I really like his self-deprecating humor and most of his advice.

In his column, Mr. Heritage starts of by admitting that his byline photo (with scalp hair) is not the real current version of Stuart Heritage. This immediately reminded me of my own Linkedin photo, which is 9 years old.

Below is a quote that will resonate strongly with long-time readers of this blog:

“Finally, when you lose your hair, you realize that the entire internet is full of information designed to make you feel bad for being bald. Perform a Google search on the subject and you’ll be inundated by two types of content: newspaper articles that breathlessly recount all the new research that might one day eradicate baldness, even though stories like this have been published for decades, and baldness very much remains a thing; and websites for hair loss clinics, all desperately trying to attract every passing click with articles about how awful it is to go bald and how easily they can get your hair back.”

Points taken, although new hair loss treatments and potential cures are not as far fetched as they sounded in the past in my opinion. And hair transplants with reputable surgeons succeed far more often then fail. Although most people should assume that they will need at least two in their lifetime. A major expense and time commitment.

Interview with Larry David

And to top it all, Mr. Heritage just summarized his interview in the book with Larry David of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” fame. Larry David has talked about his baldness numerous times over the years. Moreover, a number of episodes in Seinfeld are devoted to George Costanza (Jason Alexander)’s constant fight against his baldness.

Kintor Pharmaceutical Phase 3 Trial Updates for KX-826 and GT20029