Baricitinib (Olumiant)
Eli Lilly · Alopecia areata
ActivePhase Approved
Mechanism: Oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor.
FDA-approved for severe alopecia areata since 2022. Real-world outcomes data accumulating.
Locations: Global
Tracker
Active hair loss clinical trials.
Every meaningful active programme in hair loss research, with the latest phase, recruiting status, and expected readout dates. Updated quarterly from ClinicalTrials.gov, EU CTR, and company pipelines.
Showing 12 of 12 trials.
Ritlecitinib (Litfulo)
Pfizer · Alopecia areata
ActivePhase Approved
Mechanism: Oral JAK3/TEC-family inhibitor. Approved for ages 12+.
First treatment approved for adolescents with AA. Long-term safety study ongoing.
Locations: Global
Deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi)
Sun Pharma / Concert · Severe alopecia areata
ActivePhase Approved
Mechanism: Oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor (deuterated ruxolitinib).
Approved July 2024. Highest scalp-coverage response rates yet seen in AA trials.
Locations: United States
Bimatoprost + minoxidil combination topical
Various academic + Allergan · Androgenetic alopecia (M/F)
ActivePhase III
Mechanism: Prostaglandin analogue (bimatoprost) + minoxidil, layered approach.
If approved, would be the first novel topical combo since 1988.
Readout: 2026Locations: Global
SM04554 (samuraciclib analogue) topical Wnt activator
Biosplice (formerly Samumed) · Androgenetic alopecia
ActivePhase II/III
Mechanism: Topical small molecule Wnt-pathway activator, designed to wake dormant follicles.
Phase 2 data showed modest hair count increase. Phase 3 underway.
Readout: 2026Locations: United States, Europe
TWI-101 topical PGD2-antagonist
TWi Biotechnology · Androgenetic alopecia (male)
RecruitingPhase II
Mechanism: Blocks prostaglandin D2 signalling, which is elevated in balding scalp and suppresses anagen.
Mechanism that minoxidil and finasteride completely miss. If positive, would justify a new combo class.
Readout: 2026 Q4Locations: Taiwan, South Korea
Verteporfin
Investigator-led (Yale, Stanford) · Hair transplant donor-site scarring
RecruitingPhase II
Mechanism: Photosensitiser used post-wound to block fibrotic signalling, allowing regenerative rather than scar healing.
Could let FUT and donor-site harvests heal without a linear scar. Not a cure for baldness but big for transplant patients.
Readout: 2026Locations: United States
PP405 topical mitochondrial activator
Pelage Pharmaceuticals · Androgenetic alopecia
RecruitingPhase II
Mechanism: Activates mitochondrial pyruvate carrier in hair follicle stem cells, pushing them back into anagen.
Phase 1b data showed visible regrowth in 8 weeks — fastest onset of any mechanism in development.
Readout: 2026 H2Locations: United States
Topical valproic acid
Multiple academic centres · Androgenetic alopecia
ActivePhase II
Mechanism: HDAC inhibitor, activates Wnt/β-catenin pathway in follicles.
Cheap, well-characterised old drug being repurposed topically. Modest effect size but very low cost.
Readout: 2026Locations: South Korea, Japan
Follica platform: skin-disruption + vorinostat HDAC inhibitor
Follica Inc · Androgenetic alopecia
ActivePhase II
Mechanism: Controlled micro-wounding to scalp triggers embryonic-state regeneration; topical HDACi amplifies.
Long-running programme. Mechanism is biologically interesting but commercial readouts have repeatedly slipped.
Readout: 2026Locations: United States
Stemson Therapeutics autologous iPSC-derived dermal papilla cells
Stemson Therapeutics · Androgenetic alopecia (M/F)
ActivePhase I
Mechanism: Patient's own skin cells reprogrammed to iPSCs, differentiated into dermal-papilla cells, implanted to grow new follicles.
First-in-human dosing began 2025. The biggest single shot at a true cure currently in clinics.
Readout: 2027Locations: United States
Exosome + CRISPR follicle-rejuvenation therapy
Several academic groups (Stanford, Hong Kong U) · Androgenetic alopecia
PreclinicalPhase Preclinical
Mechanism: Exosome delivery of CRISPR base-editors to silence AR/SRD5A2 locally in scalp follicles. No systemic effect.
Long shot, but the cleanest theoretical mechanism. Mouse data strong; primate work underway.
Readout: First-in-human 2028+Locations: —