Luncheon Symposium: Update on the Efficacy and Safety of Dutasteride in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia

The document from 8 years ago discussed the efficacy and safety of dutasteride in managing androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common type of hair loss. Dutasteride, which inhibits both type 1 and 2 5α-reductase enzymes, was shown to have a potent ability to reduce scalp dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a metabolite of testosterone that contributes to hair loss. The FDA approved dutasteride in 2002 for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, and it is also approved by the KFDA for treating AGA. Phase II studies showed a dose-dependent increase in hair growth with dutasteride, and it was found to be three times more potent than finasteride for inhibiting type 2 5α-reductase enzyme and 100 times more potent for inhibiting the type 1 enzyme. All tested doses of dutasteride and finasteride 5 mg were significantly better than placebo at 12 and 24 weeks, but only dutasteride at a 2.5 mg daily dose was statistically superior to finasteride in terms of hair counts. At 24 weeks, dutasteride 0.5mg had significantly higher hair count and width, and improved hair growth compared with finasteride and placebo. The document did not discuss the effect of combining dutasteride with minoxidil.