Cortexolone 17α-Propionate (Clascoterone) is an Androgen Receptor Antagonist in Dermal Papilla Cells In Vitro

The study from 2019 investigated the effects of Cortexolone 17α-propionate (clascoterone), a novel androgen antagonist, on androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a hair disorder dependent on androgens. The research found that clascoterone inhibits androgen receptor-regulated transcription similarly to the 5α-reductase inhibitor, finasteride. Moreover, clascoterone was significantly more effective than another direct androgen receptor antagonist, enzalutamide, at inhibiting IL-6 synthesis from dihydrotestosterone-stimulated primary cultures of human scalp dermal papilla cells. These findings suggest that clascoterone could be a promising candidate for the first topical antiandrogen treatment for AGA.