Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of Rhesus Macaque Types 1 and 2 5alpha-Reductase: Evidence for Mechanism-Based Inhibition by Finasteride

FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

The user has been using minoxidil for hair loss and is considering trying a compounded topical treatment with 0.1% dutasteride, minoxidil, tretinoin, collagen, and silicon, as recommended by a trichologist. They learned that dutasteride might be more effective than finasteride and are seeking opinions on the use of topical dutasteride.