Several new hair-loss compounds reported trial results in 2025 and 2026. The three drawing the most coverage are clascoterone 5%, a topical androgen receptor inhibitor that completed Phase 3; PP405, a topical follicle-metabolism compound that completed Phase 2a; and VDPHL01, an extended-release oral minoxidil that reported late-stage results. None is FDA-approved for hair loss today.
The short version
- Clascoterone 5% completed two Phase 3 trials (SCALP 1 and SCALP 2) in 1,465 men, sponsored by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals.
- PP405 completed a Phase 2a trial in 78 men and women, sponsored by Pelage Pharmaceuticals.
- VDPHL01, an extended-release oral minoxidil from Veradermics, reported positive late-stage results in April 2026.
- All three are investigational for androgenetic alopecia. None has FDA approval for that use as of this writing.
- 2-deoxy-D-ribose, the ingredient in Deoxylocks, is a cosmetic ingredient studied in preclinical and animal work. An independent randomised trial (NCT07502976) began recruiting in 2026; no results have been reported. It is not one of the compounds above.
How do the 2026 hair-loss compounds compare?
The table below compares stage of evidence and mechanism class. It does not rank them by result — the trials used different designs, endpoints and populations, so head-to-head efficacy comparison is not supported by the published data.
| Compound | Type | Mechanism class | Stage of evidence | Route | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clascoterone 5% | Investigational drug | Local androgen receptor inhibition | Phase 3 complete (SCALP 1 / SCALP 2, 1,465 men) | Topical | Cosmo Pharmaceuticals |
| PP405 | Investigational drug | Follicle stem-cell metabolism | Phase 2a complete (78 adults) | Topical | Pelage Pharmaceuticals |
| VDPHL01 | Investigational drug | Vasodilator, extended-release | Late-stage results reported 2026 | Oral | Veradermics |
| Minoxidil (topical) | Approved OTC drug | Vasodilator | Approved; decades of trial data | Topical | Multiple |
| 2-deoxy-D-ribose | Cosmetic ingredient | Sugar molecule studied for angiogenesis | Preclinical and animal research; one independent human trial recruiting (NCT07502976), no results reported | Topical | Academic groups |
Interested in 2DDR?
Deoxylocks is a physician-formulated cosmetic scalp hydrogel with 5% 2-deoxy-D-ribose. Clear, odorless, once daily.
What is clascoterone and what did the trials measure?
Clascoterone 5% is a topical compound that blocks the androgen receptor locally in the scalp rather than lowering hormones throughout the body. In the SCALP 1 and SCALP 2 Phase 3 trials, 1,465 men were followed through a six-month double-blind phase and a six-month extension. The primary measures were target area hair count and patient-reported change.
Cosmo Pharmaceuticals reported a 5.39-fold relative improvement in target area hair count versus vehicle in SCALP 1 and a 1.68-fold relative improvement in SCALP 2. The company has said a 12-month safety follow-up was due to complete in spring 2026, ahead of FDA and EMA submissions.
What is PP405 and how is it different?
PP405 is a topical small molecule that targets the metabolism of dormant hair follicle stem cells rather than hormones. In a Phase 2a trial of 78 men and women, participants applied it daily for four weeks and were followed to twelve weeks. The primary endpoint was safety, which was met, and no systemic absorption was detected.
Pelage reported an exploratory finding that at week eight, 31% of men receiving PP405 who had more advanced hair loss showed a greater than 20% increase in hair density, versus none in the placebo group. The company described these as preliminary results from one month of application and has said Phase 3 was planned for 2026.
What did the Veradermics oral minoxidil trial report?
VDPHL01 is an extended-release oral formulation of minoxidil. Veradermics reported in April 2026 that the compound succeeded in a late-stage trial in male pattern hair loss, and presented data at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting. Oral minoxidil is currently prescribed off-label in some settings; an approved, purpose-built oral formulation would be new.
What do these results not tell you?
Quite a lot, and it is worth being direct about it.
- Relative numbers are not absolute numbers. A "5.39-fold relative improvement versus vehicle" describes the ratio between two groups, not how much hair any individual gained.
- Different trials are not comparable. Endpoints, durations, populations and imaging methods differ. Placing two compounds side by side on stage of evidence is fair; ranking them on results is not.
- Exploratory findings are not primary findings. PP405's density figure came from an exploratory endpoint in a trial designed to measure safety.
- Completed trials are not approvals. None of these compounds is FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia at the time of writing.
- Most trials enrolled men. The clascoterone Phase 3 programme was men only; findings do not transfer automatically to women.
Where does 2-deoxy-D-ribose sit in this picture?
Further back, and in a different category. 2-deoxy-D-ribose is a naturally occurring sugar molecule that academic groups have studied in preclinical and animal models, including work at the University of Sheffield. It is used as a cosmetic ingredient, not an investigational drug. An independent randomised controlled trial of a 2-deoxy-D-ribose hydrogel (NCT07502976) began recruiting in January 2026 at Kasr El Aini Hospital, with primary completion listed for October 2026; no results have been posted. That trial is not a study of Deoxylocks. Nothing at the scale of the trials described above has been reported for this ingredient.
Deoxylocks is a physician-formulated cosmetic hydrogel containing 5% 2-deoxy-D-ribose. It is a scalp care product, not a hair loss drug, and nothing in the research above was conducted on it. Anyone weighing the compounds in this article should speak with a clinician about their own situation.
Common questions about the 2026 hair-loss research
Are any of these available now?
No. As of this writing, clascoterone 5%, PP405 and VDPHL01 are investigational for androgenetic alopecia and are not FDA-approved for that use. Topical minoxidil remains the approved over-the-counter option.
Is 2DDR one of the new drugs in the news?
No. 2-deoxy-D-ribose is a cosmetic ingredient studied in preclinical research. It is not an investigational drug and is not part of the trials described above. A separate independent trial (NCT07502976) is recruiting, and has not reported results.
When might these become available?
Sponsors have described regulatory submissions and later-stage trials, but timelines are set by regulators and frequently move. Any date given now is an estimate from the company, not a decision from the FDA.
Where can I read the trial data myself?
SCALP 1 and SCALP 2 are registered as NCT05910450 and NCT05914805. PP405's trial is NCT06393452 and the VDPHL01 male study is NCT06724614. Sponsor announcements are the primary source for the PP405 and VDPHL01 figures cited here. Every source is linked below.
Last checked 15 August 2026.
Deoxylocks 5% 2DDR Scalp Hydrogel
A physician-formulated cosmetic hydrogel for nightly scalp care. Non-hormonal, clear and odorless, applied once daily to the scalp. Backed by a 90-day risk-free return policy.
Sources
Primary sources for the figures in this article. Registry records were checked on 15 August 2026.
- SCALP 1 (NCT05910450)
- SCALP 2 (NCT05914805)
- Dermatology Times coverage of the clascoterone Phase 3 readout
- Pelage Phase 2a results announcement
- PP405 Phase 2a (NCT06393452)
- Veradermics Study 302 results announcement
- VDPHL01 Study 302 (NCT06724614)
- Stimulation of hair regrowth in an animal model of androgenic alopecia using 2-deoxy-D-ribose
- 2-Deoxy-D-ribose hydrogel vs minoxidil 5% (NCT07502976)
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
