Key points from article :
Pelage Pharmaceuticals has secured $14 million in funding to advance its innovative hair loss treatment, PP405, which is now entering a Phase 2a clinical trial. PP405 is a topical treatment designed to reactivate dormant hair follicle stem cells by targeting a unique metabolic switch discovered by UCLA scientists. This approach aims to restore the natural hair growth cycle in individuals with androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as pattern baldness, which affects a significant portion of both men and women.
The ongoing Phase 2a trial will involve 60 participants and is randomized and placebo-controlled. It seeks to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of PP405, with a focus on inclusivity, ensuring that people of all skin tones and hair textures are represented. This trial follows a successful Phase 1 trial that demonstrated the treatment’s ability to activate hair follicle stem cells.
The new funding round, led by GV (formerly Google Ventures), will support the continuation of the clinical program and the company’s broader goals. Pelage’s approach could offer a novel and non-invasive alternative to current hair loss treatments, which typically only slow the progression of hair loss rather than reversing it.
