The Thyroid Hormone Analogue KB2115 (Eprotirome) Prolongs Human Hair Growth (Anagen) Ex Vivo

The study by Oláh et al. from 2016 examined the impact of the thyroid hormone analogue KB2115 (eprotirome) on the anagen phase of human hair follicles ex vivo. They discovered that KB2115 notably extended the growth phase without causing increased apoptosis or affecting mitochondrial function, indicating a potential for safe topical use in treating hair loss disorders. The treatment also reduced TGF-ß2 expression, which usually promotes the transition to the catagen phase, and slightly increased tyrosinase activity, although without significantly changing hair pigmentation. Despite these promising results, the authors noted the necessity for further studies to assess potential systemic effects, as indicated by previous animal studies. The study's integrity is noted to be potentially influenced by industry funding and conflicts of interest among some authors. Specific quantitative data and the number of hair follicles tested were not provided in the summary.