UCLA Discovers New Molecule ‘PP405’ That May Help Reverse Hair Loss
Learn how the hair growth molecule awakens dormant hair follicles
In a world of TikTok and other social media platforms, there seems to be a new hair growth miracle product or viral hair growth hack every day, but few of these are backed by scientific evidence and clinical studies. As far as science-backed hair loss treatments go, there are really only a few out there, such as Rogaine (a.k.a. minoxidil), rosemary oil and pricey in-office treatments like platelet-rich plasma therapy. However, according to research done at the University of California, Los Angeles, another scientifically-proven hair loss treatment may soon be joining the lineup. Here, we explain the discovery of what the researchers have named the “PP405” molecule and how it may potentially be the next big hair loss treatment.
About UCLA’s PP405 hair growth molecule
The PP405 molecule is “a novel, non-invasive, topical small molecule designed to reactivate dormant hair follicle stem cells and restart hair growth,” UCLA Technology Development Club said on their website. “Through a regenerative medicine approach, the treatment focuses on addressing the metabolic processes that regulate the activation and inactivation phases of hair follicle stem cells.”
In other words, this molecule helps to “awaken” dormant, undamaged hair follicles. How it works is the PP405 molecule is applied to a protein in the hair follicles’ stem cells. “This inhibits the protein, and the stem cells are moved to awaken,” says the UCLA Magazine. You can think of it similarly to how caffeine wakes us up; the PP405 molecule “wakes up” hair follicles to stimulate growth.
Even more exciting? We’re not just talking a little bit of peach fuzz when we say hair growth. “Most importantly, they [the researchers] believe the treatment will produce full ‘terminal’ hair rather than the peach fuzz variety produced by other contemporary miracle-cure lotions and potions,” UCLA Magazine wrote. Plus, the results in the first human trials done in 2023 were considered “statistically significant.”
The research is led by Pelage Pharmaceuticals with financing led by Google Ventures. They are currently in phase 2a of the clinical trial of the molecule for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, a type of hair loss.
Although the first testing on humans for the PP405 molecule wasn’t until 2023, research on the molecule has been in the works for a decade. It will take time for the clinical trial and testing to be completed and then hopefully approved by the FDA before it’s available for use by the public as a hair loss treatment.
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