Men with male pattern baldness may soon have the first new hair-loss pill in about 30 years. Veradermics reported that its experimental drug VDPHL01, an extended-release oral form of minoxidil, met the main goal of a Phase 3 trial, BioPharma Dive reported on April 27, 2026.
What the trial showed
Over six months, people taking the twice-daily dose grew significantly more new hair than those on placebo. The researchers measured the number of thicker, non-vellus hairs per square centimeter in a target area of the scalp:
- VDPHL01: an increase of about 33 hairs per cm²
- Placebo: an increase of just over 7 hairs per cm²
Minoxidil has been used for hair loss for decades, either as a topical solution or as low-dose tablets originally made for blood pressure. VDPHL01 is the first oral minoxidil developed specifically for pattern hair loss. The drug still needs regulatory approval before it can be prescribed.
More research in the pipeline
Early-stage research is also promising. In an animal study reported by ZME Science in October 2026, scientists used a dissolving microneedle patch made with stevioside, the sweet compound in stevia, to deliver minoxidil. Treated mice regrew hair over about two-thirds of the treatment area in 35 days, compared with about a quarter using standard topical minoxidil. Results in mice do not always carry over to people, so human trials are needed.
What it means for hair restoration patients
Hair transplant surgeons often pair surgery with medication to protect existing hair. Better drug options could improve long-term results for patients who have a transplant, whether in Tijuana or at home. Ask your doctor which medical treatments fit your type of hair loss, and about side effects, before starting any of them.
Resumen en español
Veradermics informó que su medicamento experimental VDPHL01, una forma oral de liberación prolongada de minoxidil, cumplió el objetivo principal de un estudio de fase 3 contra la calvicie de patrón masculino. Los participantes ganaron unos 33 cabellos por centímetro cuadrado frente a poco más de 7 con placebo. De aprobarse, sería la primera píldora nueva para la calvicie en 30 años. Un estudio en ratones con parches de microagujas de estevia también mostró resultados prometedores.
Sources: BioPharma Dive, April 27, 2026; ZME Science, October 2026.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice.
