Amazon

Amazon Launches Low-Cost Hair Loss Medication Delivery Service

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Amazon One Medical Hair Loss Medication
Amazon One Medical low-cost hair loss medication prescription and delivery after a telehealth doctor consultation.

Amazon just announced that Prime members can now access low-cost fixed pricing medication delivery for men’s hair loss and 30+ other common health, beauty and lifestyle conditions.

A 90-day supply of Finasteride will cost just $16 per month. The pay-per visit “One Medical” telehealth consultation with a doctor costs $29 via messaging, or $49 via a video visit.

Amazon Launches Low-Cost Telehealth Visit and Hair Loss Medication Delivery Service

For more, read the official announcement here. Not surprisingly, the stock price of competing telemedicine behemoth Hims & Hers fell by over 20% since the announcement by Amazon. The other major competitor that will lose sales is Ro (previously called GetRoman), but it is privately-held.

According to one summary of this news:

“Hims & Hers generates more than 80% gross margins from its core erectile dysfunction and hair loss offerings, and estimate that Amazon’s medications for those conditions are about 42% and 29% cheaper respectively.”

Moreover, Amazon will offer free shipping. The company has its own Amazon Pharmacy that enables it to obtain low-cost generic medications. But you can also get the prescription sent to your local pharmacy if so desired. Amazon will accept your medical insurance to help pay for the drugs. Prime members in nearly a dozen US cities are eligible for free same-day delivery of their medications.

Ironically, this news comes in the aftermath of EU regulators targeting Finasteride (Propecia) in Europe due to concerns over suicidal thoughts. I doubt that the drug will get banned in the EU, but some residents are currently reporting shortages at their local pharmacies.

Eyelash Hair Growth

Interestingly, Amazon will also offer eyelash hair growth medication Bimatoprost (brands Latisse and Lumigan). A 90-day supply of Bimatoprost will cost just $99.50 per month and the online doctor consultation will cost $29.

Many established topical finasteride vendors add Latanoprost into their product these days, but I do not think any of them add Bimatoprost.

Dandruff Solutions

Amazon One Medical’s dandruff fighting product list is especially interesting.

They will offer prescription strength dandruff shampoos with the below listed ingredients:

• Ketoconazole 2% shampoo, foam, or gel. Note that the popular over-the-counter (OTC) Nizoral shampoo only has ketoconazole 1%.
• Ciclopirox 1% shampoo (Loprox).
• Ciclopirox .77% gel.

They will offer OTC medicated shampoos with the following ingredients:

• Coal tar (Neutrogena T-Gel).
• Ketoconazole 1% (Nizoral).
• Selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue, Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength).
• Sulfur (Sulfur8 Medicated).
• Zinc pyrithione (Head & Shoulders, Zincon).

And they will also offer two prescription anti-inflammatory treatments:

• Clobetasol shampoo.
• Hydrocortisone 1% cream.

Make sure to also check out my post on the most popular hair loss products on Amazon.

AMPK, Energenesis

Energenesis AMPK Activator ENERGI-F701

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ENERGI-F701 vs Regaine (Minoxidil).
Energenesis ENERGI-F701 vs Regaine (Minoxidil). Hair growth comparison.

I first heard about Energenesis Biomedical (Taiwan) in 2018 via formerly highly active Japanese hair loss blogger Fuji Maru. The company was working on a new hair loss treatment called ENERGI-F701.

Energenesis AMPK Activator ENERGI-F701

The company’s technology revolves around the AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) enzyme. By enhancing the activity of AMPK, ENERGI-F701 supposedly boosts the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels of human follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs). This in turn slows down hair follicle aging and prolongs the hair cycle.

Interestingly, metformin and rapamycin both impact autophagy via inhibiting mTOR and AMPK signaling. Both drugs are being heavily studied for potential human longevity benefits.

According to the company, ENERGI-F701 is also able to counter the negative effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) upon hair growth. This is per animal studies.

In 2018, Energenesis launched a Phase II clinical trial (NCT03351322) for female pattern hair loss (FPHL) at several medical centers in Taiwan. They would use a topical solution of ENERGI-F701. In 2019, they announced completion of target patient enrollment.

In May 2023, Energenesis Biomedical released a study in which they concluded that ENERGI-F701 solution was more effective in treating FPHL without initial hair shedding in comparison to Regaine® 2% minoxidil solution. Moreover, at 12 weeks:

  • ENERGI-F701 increased hair counts from 80.8 hairs/cm2 to 92.9 hairs/cm2.
  • Regaine increased hair count from 90.1 hairs/cm2 to 101.9 hairs/cm2.
  • ENERGI-F701 caused a greater increases in the mean hair density and hair thickness compared to topical minoxidil 2%

However, during the past few years, the company has not announced anything on its news page about this product. I was therefore not planning to write this post for the time being.

However, I then happened to come across a 2024 video presentation from the company. In there, they discuss ENERGI-F701 and its possible future release as a cosmetic product (screenshot and video both below). And as in the earlier mentioned study, they show the results to be superior to minoxidil (Rogaine).

Energenesis ENERGI-F701 AMPK Activator.
Energenesis Biomedical (Taiwan)’s ENERGI-F701 AMPK Activator.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

Interestingly, I have mentioned ATP a few times on this blog.

  • One of the way’s in which minoxidil works to grow hair is via the agonistic affects on adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels.
  • The light energy from laser hair growth devices increases production of ATP. This in turn releases nitric oxide and boosts energy levels and oxygenation in hair follicles.
  • The most popular hair loss shampoo in Japan is based on Adenosine and is called Shiseido Adenovital. The ingredient adenosine is itself very popular in Japan as a hair growth promoter.
  • Some hair transplant surgeons use liposomal ATP spray after hair transplants in order to aid healing and graft survival.

A number of scientists have also found that longevity is associated with higher ATP levels.