I have covered the renowned Sinclair Dermatology (Australia) that is run by Dr. Rodney Sinclair many times on this blog. They have conducted a number of hair loss related clinical trials in recent years. Their most important ones involved:
- HMI-115 from Hope Medicine (China) = blocking the prolactin receptor via injections. Phase 1 trials ended in 2022. Phase 2 trials were then done in China and finished in 2025.
- ABS-201 from Absci (US) = blocking the prolactin receptor via injections. Unlike HMI-115, this product is developed using artificial intelligence (AI). Phase 1 trials were supposed to have started in December 2025.
- Sublingual Minoxidil and Oral Minoxidil.
Dr. Sinclair is also one of the earliest researchers in regards to the destruction of the arrector pili muscle and its role in hair loss. His clinic is also conducting trials for US-based Dermaliq Therapeutics‘ prostaglandin F2α analogue hair growth product DLQ01 (thought to contain latanoprost).
A Hair Loss Clinical Trial that Pays $20,000
And you may even regrow some hair and reverse some grey hair as a bonus.
Earlier today, Australian media released a new video where it was mentioned that balding men could earn Australian Dollars (AUD) $27,460 to participate in a new hair loss related clinical trial. This amount is equal to US Dollars (USD) $19,500 at prevailing exchange rates. As a bonus, these injections may also stop and possibly reverse grey hair.
Per the video, the trial entails injections to block the prolactin hormone (and therefore prevent the prolactin receptor from causing baldness). However, the official government clinical trial page says the following:
“Approximately 4-6 Single Ascending Dose (SAD) IV doses will be tested and if safe and well tolerated, approximately 3-4 Sub-cutaneous Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) doses will be tested in participants.”
The “subcutaneous” above means injections and the “IV” stands for intravenous. I think that you should expect both IV and injection delivery.
The above official government clinical trial page also states that the drug being tested is ABS-201 (which I mentioned earlier). It is both a Phase 1 and Phase 2 trial, with a 227 person enrollment target.
I would be wary of side effects if I was participating in this trial for an AI developed drug (unless you get the placebo). However, it should be noted that people who received the somewhat similar HMI-115 prolactin receptor blocker injections at Sinclair Dermatology in 2022 did not get serious side effects as far as I know.
Trial Details
The trial will be run by Sinclair Dermatology and Nucleus Network (both in Melbourne, Australia). On the latter’s website, they call it the Headline Trial, A separate trial participation link calls it the HAIR Trial. On the HAIR Trial page, it mentions the amount to be reimbursed as “up to $21,860” (AUD) for those eligible. This amount is lower than announced in the earlier embedded video. However, on the Headline Trial page there is a clearer elaboration about two options for participation (and hence the payment variation):
Option 1:
- 4 sets of 3 overnight stays (12 nights total).
- At least 20 follow-up visits.
- Up to $27,460 (AUD) reimbursement for your time and commitment.
Option 2:
- 4 dosing visits.
- At least 18 follow-up visits.
- Up to $21,860 (AUD) reimbursement for your time and commitment.
On the HAIR trial page, it says that the participants will receive 4 doses of the study medication over the first 6 months. The total study duration is approximately 18 months and participants will be regularly monitored. Each clinic visit in Melbourne will take 1 to 2 hours. However, on Sinclair Dermatology’s website, it says:
“Patients will be asked to visit the clinic about 27 times over 18 months. There will only be 4 dosing visits.”
As far as eligibility goes, most of us will fail the first one in the below list. I am also not sure if they will accept non-Australian residents.
- You “may” not be eligible if you have: used minoxidil, finasteride or anabolic steroids in the last 6 months; used dutasteride in the last 12 months; have previously had a hair transplant or scalp micropigmentation; are on prescription medications; or have certain heart, kidney, or liver-related health conditions,
- You must be a man aged 18-65 years. However, in both the HAIR Trial and Headline Trial links, they also have an option for women to register their interest. Confusing.
- You must weigh over 60 kgs (132 lbs).
- You must have a balding spot on the top of their head (i.e., crown hair loss).
There are also other exclusion criteria in the official government clinical trial page.
Hey Admin, any juicy news you think we can expect this year (if you had to guess).
It has to be the full phase 2 of PP405. But I’m not sure if Pelage are presenting at AAD meeting later this month as they still haven’t registered.
They also missed the deadline to register for late breaking session which they attended back in AAD 2024 meeting to present phase 1 results for PP405.
Well normally you sign up to present weeks before you register for a conference. It is an odd choice that they aren’t presenting. Especially since it was mentioned that they would be presenting soon at conference in early 2026.
Surprised they haven’t done a small study first to gauge expected side effects and results.
All of the world’s leading hair loss researchers have affiliations with many companies. I think Sinclair is doing good work, but we cannot rely on this product to be a miracle.
It’s all sounding very dodgy to me. Although the results of the trial for HMI-115 for androgenic alopecia did not appear to be overwhelming, and the US trials never began. All these “start up companies” trying to cash in and raise funds. Are they just offering Professor Rodney Sinclair mega money to use his name and reputation to try and generate buzz to get more funding from a product that is going to be underwhelming. Pay Professor Rodney Sinclair mega money to “conduct a trial” at his clinic to create hype and buzz. Once enough funding has been generated, you never hear from them again. What happened to Mr Sinclair’s trial into Latanoprost? I’m starting to have a little doubt and suspicion of Mr Rodney Sinclair, especially after his endorsement of a kerastase shampoo for prostaglandins which did nothing like he claimed. Did he have shares in Kerastase or they paid him to endorse? Is Professor Rodney Sinclair living on past reputation from his oral minoxidil presentation several years back, especially when hair transplant surgeons in Thailand couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about as they were already prescribing it for AA 15 years prior to Professor Sinclair’s presentation. I can’t help but feel Mr Sinclair may have been bought out. What happened to his topical Latanoprost study, yet Yuliya Ovrachenko gave a remarkable presentation years before using 0.1% injectable Latanoprost at the European Hair Research Society with incredible results, which corroborated the same results by U Blume Peytavi using 0.1% injectable Latanoprost and yet nothing was ever heard of afterwards. Maybe Mr Sinclair is reaching the age where he feels it’s time to “cash out”. I don’t know.
What are the possible side effects? If it could regrow zone 1 and reverse hairs whitening, I’d pay THEM $20k. Too bad I don’t qualify based on their first and last bullet points, and I live in America.
I’ll do it for FREE if you don’t give me placebo.
If you reside in Australia and don’t take any hair loss drugs, what an incredible opportunity.
I would even do it for free.
Absci is not from Canada, Vancouver Washington USA.
Thanks, I forgot!