Development of Finasteride Polymer Microspheres for Systemic Application in Androgenic Alopecia

The study aimed to develop a systemic delivery system for finasteride, a drug used to treat androgenic alopecia (AGA), with fewer adverse effects. The researchers developed finasteride-loaded microspheres and tested their efficacy in inhibiting 5a-reductase, a key enzyme in AGA. The study found that a single dose of finasteride-loaded microspheres effectively alleviated hair loss for over four weeks, and its effectiveness for up to eight weeks was confirmed. The study suggests that the effect of finasteride-loaded microspheres does not appear immediately following administration, but rather there is a delayed onset of drug efficacy following the initial dosing. The study concludes that the evaluation of a novel dosage form demonstrated the possibility of an effective novel dose and administration route for finasteride.