Edit: It seems like this trial is for Dermaliq’s DLQ01 product.
In my old posts on Bimatoprost, I mentioned the related glaucoma drug Latanoprost. While Bimatoprost is a synthetic prostamide analog, Latanoprost is a prostaglandin F2α analog and it prolongs the anagen phase of the hair cycle via the prostaglandin effect.
Latanoprost for Hair Growth Trial
The renowned Dr. Rodney Sinclair and his Melbourne based Sinclair Dermatology clinic will test Latanoprost eye drops for hair growth in a new clinical trial. I have covered Dr. Sinclair numerous times on this blog, including in my post on “Oral Minoxidil“. Most recently, his clinic has taken the lead in testing Hope Medicine’s HMI-115 prolactin receptor antibody.
Latanoprost (sold under the brand name Xalatan) is a medication that is used to treat increased pressure inside the eye. This includes ocular hypertension and glaucoma. It was approved for medical use in the US in 1996. However, it is not FDA approved to treat hair loss. One of the noted side effects of Latanoprost (off-label use) is an increase in the thickness and density of eyelash hair.
However, this type of cosmetic use near the eye region can come with serious side effects in the eyes. Moreover:
“The overgrowth of lashes may result in lash misdirection and distichiasis, and an extra row of hair at the aperture of the meibomian glands that can result in eye irritation.”
Prostaglandin Analogs
Latanoprost is a prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α or PGF2a) analog, similar to Travoprost and Tafluprost. A 2012 German study of 16 men with androgenetic alopecia found that Latanoprost significantly increased hair density (terminal and vellus hairs) at 24 weeks compared with baseline. A 2015 review concluded that the most promising alternative clinical uses of prostaglandin F2α analogs beyond the eyelashes include: androgenic alopecia; chemotherapy-induced alopecia; and alopecia areata.
Even over 20 years ago, a detailed 2002 study on stump-tailed macaques found that Latanoprost had a potent positive effect on hair growth. Note that Aneira Pharma is developing a hair loss product that will likely contain Latanoprost, Cyclosporine and Minoxidil.
Also, Dermaliq Therapeutics (US) is working on a topical Prostaglandin F2α analogue product for male pattern baldness. I covered the company in my post on increasing PGE2 and PGF2α for hair growth. On a related note, make sure to read my posts on PGD2 inhibition for hair growth.
Misplaced Skepticism
Most readers are skeptical about existing drugs such as Bimatoprost and Latanoprost doing much for scalp hair growth. However, in my opinion, we should welcome every new mechanism of targeting hair regrowth. Even if each one is “only” as effective as the tried and tested topical Minoxidil.
Some products might just make existing hair thicker rather than re-grow lost hair. However, this thicker scalp hair is then less easily destructible by the ravages of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Moreover, if we have many different alternatives to tackle hair loss, the chances are that each of us can find at least three products that cause him or her no side effects.
Ultimately, a cocktail of topical products could multiply the hair growth effect. A number of new companies that sell topical finasteride are also including Latanoprost as part of the ingredients. Delivery mechanisms continue to improve, resulting in superior product absorption and penetration into the scalp.
“in my opinion, we should welcome every new mechanism of targeting hair regrowth.”
I completely agree with you. Every body seems to respond differently to drugs. I was shocked when I found out Dutasteride did NOT give me side effects, but finasteride did. And some people should not take oral minoxidil, and others hate the itchiness of the topical product.
Aneira hasn’t had an update in 2 years – including their website, which has a 2-year outdated timeline. I’m guessing it isn’t going anywhere. I had high hopes for them when they got funding.
Just because a company doesnt give a sign of life doesnt mean it’s dead. For instance, Cosmo Pharma announced last week that phase 3 of Breezula (clascoterone) will start before the end of March. We hadn’t had heard from them for years.
Yes, the Breezula news was a great surprise.
https://www.hairlosscure2020.com/cassiopea-says-breezula-phase-ii-results-very-positive/
“…if we have many different alternatives to tackle hair loss, the chances are that each of us can find at least three products that cause him or her no side effects.”
I LOVE this. Last year, I spent at least 1000€ on every treatment available, trying to find something that worked – thus far, the regime I can tolerate is quite weak – I was prone to insomnia, brainfog, low libido, racing heart – from all manner of compounds and FDA approved drugs. I am holding out hope for a stack that is manageable.
This website, and your attitude, is very reassuring. There can be so much bitterness here, which of course is understandable – but your optimism is infectious!
Exactly this. There’s many examples actually.
HopeMed, Tsuji, Fukuda, Plikus, Pelage. Some of them didn’t issue a statement for 3 years and more.
Marketing and communications is of minor interest to them – all of them don’t have a product (yet).
It’s just us lurkers who weigh every little letter which got changed.
Why not buy it online and start using it now?
Word I’m boutta do that.
Well, I didn’t find it online. Maybe it’s only prescription.
I’m already using it and the results after 11 months are, “so-so.” I go through HairgrowthMd.com. When I started last year, I was NW3. Still a NW 3, but the vertex and crown has seen a ton of terminal hair regrowth. The temples and thinning corners have seen some terminal hairs, mostly vilus hairs, nothing earth shattering. I’m clearly not a hyper responder up front. The ingredients in my bottle are: minoxidil 10%, Azelaic acid 1.5%, finasteride 0.1%, hydrocortisone 0.1%, progesterone 0.25%, tretinoin 0.025%, latanoprost 0.003%.
$250 for a 3 month supply of the gel formula. Goes on as a matte finish, not greasy at all.
Where did you order from? What type of progesterone?
Do we think we will ever find a cure?
If women don’t go bald (unless illness or old age) then there must be a way. The main target is DHT because it is virtually non-existent in female. Other than that there is no difference between male/female sclap except more subcutaneous fat for females. Men who transition to female early in life don’t go bald either. This is clearly an hormone problem.
Unfortunately, women also goes bald. 70 % of men and 50 % of women during their life.
https://bioresearchpharma.com/science-pipeline/#brp-011
That’s an approach I really like, very smart.
Let’s see where this goes. This sounds pretty optimistic:
„As a monotherapy or in combination with existing therapies, BRP-011 holds the potential to become the cure for androgenetic alopecia in both men and women.“
Interview with the CEO of „Bioresearchpharma“:
https://mambiznes.pl/wywiady/chcemy-aby-polska-koncu-zaistniala-mapie-innowacji-farmaceutycznych-lukasz-zybaczynski-bioresearch-pharma-111619
End of trials plus commercialization by the end of 2026.
Is this the dark horse we‘ve all been hoping for?
I think this phase 2 and 3 trials would still need to be completed after 2026 from reading that piece…
I disagree and I don’t read that anywhere in the interview or the website.
This is clearly a repurposed drug, that’s the sole purpose of the company. Latanoprost, but with a different delivery-method.
They wouldn’t pursue that if it would need 3 phases.
The same model is followed by „Dermaliq“ (Prostaglandin).
The pathway to market is much faster.
I think both companies are highly interesting, and much more likely to be available sooner compared to others.
Not trying to rain on your parade Ben, I want decent treatments out ASAP like anyone here, just trying to be realistic.
The schematic for ‘repurposing’ on BRP’s pipeline page shows the time savings are mostly from skipped preclinical (understandably) and condensed clinical study, but the three phases are still there.
In the article you linked ‘commercialization’ is qualified as “We assume commercialization through the sale of rights to further development of the medicine or by granting a license to a partner who will efficiently implement the clinical trial program, but will also register and introduce our products to the global market.”, which indicates there is further (clinical) research do be done by whoever buys the rights to these drugs after Phase I completion.
To your point, what I don’t understand is why these already approved drugs with proven safety have to go through 3 trial phases for a new indication (similar with Amplifica and osteopontin), but that’s the system I guess.
I am still not agreeing with you LJ, I do translate to German though, there might be minor differences to English:
„Im Falle eines neuen chemischen Moleküls dauern die ersten Phasen des Arzneimittelentwicklungsprozesses im Zusammenhang mit der präklinischen Produktion und Bewertung bis zu 5 bis 7 Jahre. In unserem Neupositionierungsprozess verkürzen wir diesen Zeitraum auf ein Jahr, basierend auf der Erfahrung anderer Pharmaunternehmen und der Erfahrung von Patienten. Dann ist die Phase der klinischen Studien viel kürzer und erfordert die Beteiligung einer kleineren Anzahl von Patienten aufgrund der bereits bestätigten Sicherheit. Diese Phase kann bis zu 9 Jahre dauern, während wir diesen Prozess auf 2-3 Jahre verkürzen. Das nächste Jahr ist der Registrierungsprozess selbst.“
Mr. Zybaczyński says „pre-clinical is shortened to one year“ (and is already done, also in vivo); „clinical research is much faster with fewer patients due to confirmed safety“ and „this can normally take up to 9 years, but we shorten this process to 2 – 3 years, and one additional year for registry“.
That’s from the interview.
I think we’re of the same understanding Ben, maybe things lost in translation. In the English translation of the article it states “we anticipate commercialization after completing Phase I of clinical trials, which should happen by the end of 2026 for both projects”, which indicates phases 2 & 3 of the clinical research are still to be completed from 2026 (presumably by their partner in ‘commercialisation’) as I wrote in my original reply.
No I don’t think we’re on the same page. Agree to disagree.
Commercialization doesn’t mean it still has to undergo two more trials, that’s absurd.
This is a repurposed drug. It’s different regulations and it’s much quicker to market, and it’s the sole purpose of the whole company.
I think you’re getting it wrong, but I could be too ;-)
It wouldn’t be the first time a company has abused an appealing sounding word in service of marketing. It could also be a translation issue and that commercialisation pathway was more meant. We’ll see, but I wouldn’t hold your breath for BRP-011 to be out much before 2029…
Guys I also think BRP is a big deal. Thats great news …. BTW Dermaliq just updated the Pipeline which now shows Phase 2B as finished
https://dermaliq.com/#pipeline
Great observation, great news.
Sinclair Dermatology did the trials. I hope we‘re soon getting news from them!
New segment on the website:
„DLQ01 Phase 2 data has impressively demonstrated its superior efficacy. The number of hairs in the target area increased effectively with high statistical significance compared to the vehicle. More than 80% of subjects responded with a positive change in hair growth. We are continuing clinical development based on a clear regulatory pathway to approval.“
That seems to mean phase 2 is already over and that with impressive results!