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PP405 for Pattern Hair Loss: What It Is, What We Know So Far, and What You Can Do Today
- Dr. Alpana Mohta
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
A new, non-hormonal treatment being studied at UCLA, called PP405, is being discussed as a potential shift in how we treat pattern hair loss. What makes it different is its goal: not just slowing hair loss, but reactivating “dormant” hair follicles.
Below is a clear breakdown of what PP405 is, why it matters, and what’s actually proven and available right now.
First: What is pattern hair loss?
Pattern hair loss, also called androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is the most common reason for gradual hair thinning in both men and women.
Key points:
It’s not because you’re unhealthy.
It doesn’t happen overnight.
It happens because hair follicles shrink slowly over years under the influence of hormones and genetics.
Inside each hair follicle, hair grows in a repeating cycle with three phases:
Growth phase (anagen)
Short transition phase (catagen)
Resting phase (telogen)
In pattern hair loss:
The growth phase becomes shorter
The resting phase becomes longer
So with each cycle, the new hair becomes shorter, thinner, and weaker than before. Over time, some hairs become so miniaturized that they’re barely visible. In some cases, follicles become inactive (dormant).
How it usually appears:
Men: receding hairline at the temples and thinning at the crown
Women: more diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp
In pattern hair loss, the hair follicle often doesn’t “die”. It can become dormant. That’s why researchers are looking for ways to revive these follicles.
What do current FDA-approved treatments do?
Right now, there are only two FDA-approved treatments for hair loss:
Minoxidil
Finasteride
Helps improve blood flow
Does not change the hormones or genes driving pattern hair loss
Often works as a supportive treatment regardless of the cause
Typical timeline mentioned:
About 3 months to reduce active shedding
Another 3 months to start seeing visible growth
Finasteride (oral or topical)
Works by blocking conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
DHT is described as the hormone responsible for miniaturization of follicles in pattern hair loss
Helps preserve hair that would otherwise be lost and can thicken existing hair
But it cannot reactivate dormant follicles
Other supportive options sometimes used
But the key message is: these don’t revive dormant follicles.
What makes PP405 different?
PP405 is presented as a new approach because it targets energy metabolism inside hair follicle stem cells, not just hormones or blood flow.
Here's how it works (Warning: jargon ahead. Skip to last two sentences of this section):
Hair follicle stem cells respond not only to hormones, but also to how they produce energy
Cells can make energy in two main ways:
Mitochondrial respiration
Glycolysis
A small protein complex called the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) helps control which pathway is used
When MPC is blocked, cells shift from mitochondrial respiration toward glycolysis
That shift is described as a trigger that can activate dormant hair follicles
In simple terms: PP405 aims to “switch on” signals that may push resting follicles back into the growth cycle.
PP405 is the first topical MPC inhibitor designed for hair growth, and it is currently in Phase 2 human trials.
What results have been reported so far?
Early safety-focused human trial (started in 2023)
Around 20 men with androgenetic alopecia used topical PP405 for one week
The stated goal was safety assessment
Even within that short use, some participants noticed improvements in shedding and growth
Biopsies reportedly showed increased stem cell activity
Phase 2a trial (ongoing)
78 participants, both men and women
31% of men reported more than 20% increase in terminal hair growth
No traces were found in the blood, suggesting that topical application did not lead to systemic absorption
Is PP405 a cure for baldness?
I would be optimistic, but realistic.
Why:
It’s still in clinical trials
Long-term side effects are not yet known (unlike what’s known over time for minoxidil and finasteride)
It’s not yet clear whether stem cell stimulation from PP405 is sustainable long-term
If everything goes smoothly, FDA approval might be possible around 2028, meaning it would not be available for the next few years.
A warning about fake “PP405” products
Because PP405 is not yet on the market, be extremely cautious if someone tries to sell a product claiming to contain PP405. It is most likely fake.
What you can do now: practical, evidence-based options
Until newer treatments are truly available, these are the best current FDA-approved options for pattern hair loss:
1) Minoxidil
2) Finasteride
If you want a shampoo for hair loss
Use ketoconazole shampoo (and says to skip other “hair loss shampoos”), as it is helpful as a DHT-blocker shampoo option. Try the Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo . Apply it to your scalp for 10 minutes, then rinse, 2-3 times a week.
Avoid rosemary oil. It doesn’t really work.
If you want to try “natural” add-ons
Use
You may want to try out the Minimalist Hair Density Serum, which includes both Redensyl along with Anagain, Procapil, Baicapil, and Capixyl.
Check for common contributors to chronic hair loss, like:
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Thyroid dysfunction
In some extreme cases, hair transplant may be the only option. Your dermatologist will help you determine that.
Takeaway
PP405 is being studied as a potential new kind of hair-loss treatment because it targets the “dormant follicle” problem, which most current options don’t address. Early trial updates described in the transcript are promising, but it’s still under study, not yet proven long-term, and not commercially available.
For now, the most reliable path remains: diagnose properly, treat consistently, and address any deficiencies or thyroid issues that may worsen shedding.