Paper 2. Epigallocatechin Gallate and Tannic Acid Based Formulations of Finasteride for Dermal Administration and Chemoembolization

The University of British Columbia has developed topical formulations of finasteride for dermal administration and chemoembolization using epigallocatechin gallate and tannic acid. The study found that adding EGCG or TA to finasteride formulations improved drug release and dermal uptake compared to a generic control, with EGCG- or TA-based formulations increasing dermal penetration of the drug. The study investigated the use of finasteride for hair loss and BPH treatment through topical application and found that solvent-based systems were more effective for systemic drug delivery than aqueous solutions. The paper proposes that using EGCG and tannic acid formulations could be a viable treatment for hair loss by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase and penetrating the skin effectively. Further research is needed to determine their safety and effectiveness in humans.