Topical Drugs Regrow Hair In Mice

A study conducted by researchers at Columbia University in 2015 tested the effects of two FDA-approved drugs, ruxolitinib and tofacitinib, on hair regrowth in mice. These drugs, originally approved for treating myelofibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively, were found to promote hair growth when administered orally but also impaired the mice's immune systems. To mitigate this side effect, the researchers applied the drugs topically to the skin of mice during the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle, a period when hair typically takes over a month to regrow. The treated areas showed significant hair regrowth, suggesting a potential new topical treatment for hair loss.