Scientists have found that a drug that is designed to combat brittle bones could be used as a cure for baldness.
Researchers from Manchester University discovered that WAY-316606, a treatment that was initially used to treat people suffering from osteoporosis, also blocks one of the proteins that is thought to cause baldness in men and caused an increase in hair growth within a short space of time, just two days.
Dr Nathan Hawkshaw, who led the team at the University of Manchester, said: "The fact this new agent, which had never even been considered in a hair loss context, promotes human hair growth is exciting because of its translational potential. It could one day make a real difference to people who suffer from hair loss.
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"I'm very optimistic it could work. In lab tests, the drug started promoting growth in hair follicles in just two days - that's pretty quick. We are looking at using it as a topical treatment, a gel or shampoo that could reach the follicle."
The research has been published in the Public Library of Science Biology.
It was based on a study that took in 40 men who were suffering from baldness. They took the drug and saw positive results within days.
It is estimated that 50% of men above the age of 50 are afflicted by male pattern baldness and there are only two treatments available on the market, both of which do not offer consistent results and can lead to negative side effects.
American scientists recently announced a potential cure for baldness, particularly for those suffering from alopecia. The drug, ruxolitinib, has positive results for 75% of people with alopecia over a four-month period and is thought to have the potential to be used on those with male pattern baldness.
The drug targets so-called Janus kinase (JAK) enzymes, which cause dormant hair follicles, and it promoted a 92% improvement in hair growth.
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"Although our study was small, it provides crucial evidence that JAK inhibitors may constitute the first effective treatment for people with alopecia areata," said Dr Julian Mackay-Wiggan, associate professor at Columbia University and a dermatologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
"This is encouraging news for patients who are coping with the physical and emotional effects of this disfiguring autoimmune disease."
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