in 2019, South Korean Researchers successfully tested finasteride injections as a new potential treatment for hair loss. They developed a unique finasteride-loaded microspheres delivery system for these injections. I am updating this post due to new developments in this technology and clinical trial initiation in 2021 (see further below and h/t to “James”).
The best part of this treatment is that you only need to get one injection treatment per month. While the initial research was in mice, the scientists seem to be confident that this will work in humans too.
Note that others have tried this in the past too.
- One interesting successful test in Brazil in 2019 entailed injections containing a blend of minoxidil, finasteride, biotin, and D-panthenol.
- A more extensive study was done in India in 2017. The results in this one found 10 percent of patients taking oral finasteride getting loss of libido; versus 5 percent of patients undergoing mesotherapy treatment with finasteride.
Finasteride Injections Superior to Oral Finasteride
Most importantly, the hair growth results from the finasteride-loaded microsphere injections were superior to those from oral finasteride. The injection group’s hair growth success rate was 93.3 percent, compared to the oral formulation group’s 86.7 percent. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels remained lower and comparable to oral finasteride even 10 weeks after a single injection.
Dr. Kim Beom-joon from Chung-Ang University Hospital led this work. The researchers also published an important related paper in June 2019 titled: “Development of finasteride polymer microspheres for systemic application in androgenic alopecia.”
The 5α-reductase inhibitory effect of the finasteride-loaded microspheres lasts for 4 to 8 weeks following one single injection. The injections and delivery technology are manufactured by Inventage Lab. Dr. Kim states that by minimizing the intake of finasteride, potential side effects such as erectile dysfunction and decreased libido would be reduced.
Update: Clinical trial page for IVL3001 finasteride injections from Inventage Lab.
Daewoong, Inventage Lab and Clinical Trials in 2021
In September 2021, Daewoong Pharmaceutical (South Korea) won approval to commence Phase 1 clinical trials for its finasteride injections in Australia. Their product is known “IVL3001”. These finasteride injections will be administered once every month to three months subcutaneously.
Daewoong aims to release this product in 2023, so there must be some way in which the trials will be allowed to proceed fast. IVL3001 is an injection formulation of finasteride-loaded polymer microspheres.
In June 2021, Daewoong reached an agreement with Inventage Lab to develop long-acting hair loss drugs using the latter’s controlled drug release technology. This drug delivery system (DDS) is known as IVL-PPFM and it facilitates production of microspheres with “controllably repeatable” sphere sizes.
We have all been waiting patiently for many years to get access to a reputable branded topical finasteride. Our best hope is Polichem and its P-3074, which was finally released in parts of Europe in 2021. Perhaps finasteride injections will turn out to be an even more effective hair loss treatment. Assuming side effects are negligible.
Dutasteride Injections
Note that in 2017, we already read about mesotherapy (injections) with dutasteride giving great hair growth results. I wrote another post on dutasteride injections in 2018. This treatment is especially popular in Spain.
I hope that in the near future, we can soon also get finasteride injections to treat our hair loss. Especially in clinics in the US. And down the road, via a delivery system designed by a professional biopharmaceutical company such as Daewoong.