Category Archives: Acne

Winlevi, Acne, Cassiopea, Clascoterone, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals

Winlevi is the #1 Most Prescribed Topical Acne Brand

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I first wrote this post on Winlevi for acne in 2019 and often update it when updating my Breezula post. This is because both products are made by the same company (Cosmo Pharmaceuticals) and contain the same key key ingredient in clascoterone. Winlevi is much less potent than Breezula (1% versus 5%).

Winlevi clascoterone 1% cream is a first-in-class androgen receptor inhibitor that can be used by both males and females to treat acne. In was first approved by the US FDA in 2020. Thereafter, it was approved for sale in the EU and Canada in 2023.

Winlevi was originally manufactured by Cassiopea (Italy), prior to the latter’s 2021 takeover by Cosmo. More product details can be seen here. The Winlevi for acne reviews on WebMd and on drugs.com are not bad compared to other drugs.

Winlevi Clascoterone Cream
Winlevi Clascoterone 1% Cream.

Update: March 21, 2024

Winlevi is the #1 Most Prescribed Topical Acne Brand in the US

In Cosmo Pharmaceuticals’ latest news release, it makes the following statement:

“Winlevi continues to be the #1 prescribed branded topical acne product in the US.”

  • More than 927,000 TRx (prescriptions) have been given out since launch.
  • Winlevi has been prescribed by over 17,900 unique prescribers, representing over 90% of total healthcare practitioners in the US dermatology sector.

Also of interest, Comso has initiated new commercial partnerships  that have made Winlevi available in the EU, UK, South Africa, Middle East, North Africa and South Korea. And most recently, in Australia via Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (India).

Update: November 1, 2021 — Sun Pharma announces that Winlevi Clascoterone 1% cream is now available for sale in the US. To be used for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

August 1, 2021

Winlevi, Cassiopea and Sun Pharma

Winlevi (clascoterone cream 1%) will now be released in the US market in the fourth quarter of 2021. Official website here.

On July 26, 2021, Cassiopea announced that it was partnering with Sun Pharma in order to commercialize and market Winlevi in the US and Canada. On July 29, 2021, the company also released its first half 2021 results.

The US FDA approved Winlevi® (clascoterone cream 1%) in August 2020 for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. This prescription drug is a topical alternative to Accutane and Spironolactone. It is an anti-hormonal treatment for acne that targets the androgen receptor. It works by reducing sebum production and scalp inflammation.

Many people will inevitably try to use Winlevi on their scalps for hair growth (via off-label prescription). This is not recommended by the manufacturer.

August 27, 2020

Winlevi Approved by the FDA to Treat Acne

Winlevi Clascoterone Cream 1% for Acne.
Winlevi Clascoterone Cream 1% Acne Treatment.

Cassiopea’s Winlevi topical androgen receptor inhibitor was just approved as an acne treatment by the US FDA. It is the first acne treatment with a new mechanism of action to be approved in 40 years.

The US FDA is also reviewing a new drug application (NDA) for clascoterone cream 1% to treat acne.

More information from Cosmo Pharma (Ireland — COPN:SWX), which owns 45 percent of Cassiopea (Italy — SKIN:SW).

CEO Diana Harbort quote:

“Dermatologists have said targeting androgen hormonal activity in the skin is ‘the holy grail’ of acne treatment for both males and females.”

August 23, 2019

I have covered Italian company Cassiopea numerous times on this blog. Primarily due to its Breezula topical product for male pattern hair loss. Earlier this year, Cassiopea announced very good 12-month Phase 2 clinical trial results for Breezula.

Clascoterone and Acne

Cassiopea is also working on an acne product called Winlevi. Both Breezula and Winlevi are based on the same key ingredient: Clascoterone. However, the dosage in the latter is significantly lower at 1%. This acne product is almost ready to come to market per Cassiopea’s product pipeline.

Winlevi (Clascoterone) Pipeline.
Winlevi clinical trial and NDA filing schedule.

 

Earlier this week, Cassiopea made a major announcement. The company has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking marketing approval for clascoterone cream 1% for the treatment of acne.

My Thoughts

Some interesting points in the press release and my thoughts:

  • Clascoterone cream 1% targets androgen receptors at the site of application. This inhibits the local (skin) effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Apparently, DHT is a key driver of acne lesion development. Most people wrongly assume it is solely testosterone.
  •  This acne treatment product will be safe to use in both males and females.
  • If approved, clascoterone cream 1% will represent the first new mechanism of action in the treatment of acne in almost 40 years. Interestingly, if Breezula is approved for hair loss in 2021, it will be the first new topical or oral treatment for hair loss in almost 25 years.
Bicalutamide, Acne, Anti-Androgen, Casodex, Female Hair Loss, Hirsutism

Bicalutamide for Female Pattern Hair Loss

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Bicalutamide Female Pattern Hair Loss
Bicalutamide to treat female pattern hair loss. Before and after 6 months of treatment with 50 mg per day. © 2020 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.

Over the past several years, I have increasingly been hearing about an oral anti-androgen called bicalutamide (brand name Casodex). While originally approved to treat prostate cancer in 1995, it is becoming a popular option in treating female pattern hair loss (FPHL).

Bicalutamide is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen (NSAA). It is also called a selective androgen receptor (AR) antagonist. Among the skin and hair conditions that it is being used to treat include acne, hirsutism and female pattern hair loss. Bicalutamide was originally derived from a structural modification of flutamide.

Update: August 2023 — A new paper from Brazil on treating female pattern hair loss covers bicalutamide in detail.

Update: April 2023 — From yesterday’s ISHRS Webinar:

April 19, 2023

Bicalutamide for Female Pattern Hair Loss

A number of recent reviews, studies and presentations conclude favorably in regards to the use of oral bicalutamide to treat female pattern hair loss (FPHL).

  • In 2022, researchers from Brazil reviewed various studies and concluded that oral bicalutamide seems to be a promising option to expand the arsenal of FPHL treatment. They do point out the need for clinical trials to establish the ideal dose and efficacy of the drug.
  • At the 2022 ISHRS conference, Dr. Sergio Vañó Galván discussed two “new medications” to treat hair loss: bicalutamide and clascoterone (aka Breezula).
  • Moreover, at the same conference, Dr. Alba Gómez-Zubiaur had a presentation titled: “Mesotherapy with Bicalutamide: A New Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia.” In April 2023, he published a study on this interesting mesotherapy delivery method for bicalutamide. Make sure to also read my post on mesotherapy and dutasteride.
  • In 2020, a group of Spanish researchers retrospectively reviewed all patients who were receiving oral bicalutamide (OB) for FPHL at their hair clinic between February 2018 and February 2020. A total of 44 women receiving OB 25-50 mg daily were included. They concluded that OB had favorable hair growth results and a very good safety profile, even when used in combination with oral minoxidil or spironolactone. One of their patient’s before and after photo is shown at the top of this post.
  • In 2020, a team from Australia led by Dr. Rodney Sinclair reviewed the safety results in 316 women treated with bicalutamide. Doses ranged from 5 mg per day to 50 mg per day. The vast majority of them were also using oral minoxidil or spironolactone. In general, the safety profile was excellent and the drug benefitted female androgenetic alopecia (AGA) patients. The few patients who got a mild elevation in liver enzymes saw no adverse symptoms.

Side Effects

Bicalutamide has no diuretic effect and it does not cross the blood brain barrier. In comparison to another popular anti-androgen called flutamide, bicalutamide has a much lower rate of liver toxicity. Moreover, unlike the former, the latter does not affect serum luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels.

Bicalutamide can cause a mild elevation of liver transaminases (enzymes), peripheral edema and gastrointestinal complaints in a very small percentage of users. These side effects are usually reversible. Overall, this medication seems to cause fewer side effects than Spironolactone, the most popular anti-androgen that is used for reducing hair loss.

Note that bicalutamide is often used as an antiandrogen in feminizing hormone therapy for transgender women. And also as a puberty blocker in adolescent transgender girls.

In 2017, the combination of bicalutamide and a birth control pill was evaluated in a phase III clinical trial for the treatment of severe hirsutism in women with PCOS. The combination was found to be significantly more effective than a birth control pill alone.