Clinical Trials and Hair Loss

In 2018, over 150 trials were conducted to understand and develop better treatments for hair loss, a condition affecting two-thirds of American men by the age of 35 and 85% by the age of 50. The global alopecia market was valued at over $7.3 billion in 2015. Despite the high demand, there was little high-quality evidence supporting the effectiveness of available treatments. The FDA had only approved minoxidil for women and minoxidil and finasteride for men for androgenetic alopecia. Other therapies were used off-label. Treatments like immunomodulators, spironolactone, prostaglandin agonists, microneedling combined with minoxidil, low-level laser light therapy, and dietary supplements showed varying degrees of potential, but well-designed clinical trials were needed to confirm their efficacy. The document also detailed the FDA approval process for new drugs and devices, emphasizing the rigorous testing and low approval rates.