The active ingredient in Viagra combined with nitroglycerin could be effective against hair loss. This is supported by the biopharmaceutical company Topadur Pharma which has developed an experimental drug which, according to CEO Pascal Brenneisen, would represent “a turning point in the fight against baldness”.
The anti-baldness drug
The drug, currently called TOP-M119 from the name of the molecule, was born from the idea of Reto Naef and Daniel Vasella, respectively ex-manager and ex-CEO of the Swiss pharmaceutical multinational Novartis.
The medicine it has not yet been tested on humans, but the results of the analyzes conducted so far on the combination of the two drugs that make up the molecule would be encouraging. From one of the preclinical studies on rodent hair, it appears that Viagra improves the active growth phase of the hair’s life cycle, while another research demonstrates the ability of the active ingredients to slow down hair loss caused by cyclophosphamide, used for chemotherapy.
A pack of Viagra
The effects of Viagra and nitroglycerin
In addition to its use as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, Sildanefil citrate, known as Viagra, is also known as an aid in the treatment of heart failure, just as nitroglycerin, apart from its use in the creation of explosive devices, is a molecule used medicinally to increase the Blood flow thanks to its vasodilatory action.
If we consider that the poor supply of blood and oxygen to the scalp is one of the main reasons that lead toandrogenetic alopeciaamong the major causes of baldness, the combination of the two drugs could therefore represent one of the solutions against hair loss.
“Thanks to the combined action of Viagra and nitroglycerin we obtain blood circulation 1000 times higher“, said Reto Naef.
Drug development
Topadur Pharma has just signed an agreement with the Chinese investment fund Oshen Holdings SA to both start the first clinical trials on humans, and to market the drug in China once authorized.
“Based on our preclinical data, we believe that TOP-M119 can become a game-changer in treating hair loss and improving hair quality. The partnership agreement with Oshen allows us to accelerate the development of TOP-M119 and provide faster access to patients,” the company’s CEO Pascal Brenneisen said in a press release.
Photo source: ANSA
