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Dutasteride
- The Next Hair Loss Medication That Will Soon Eclipse Propecia and
Proscar?
Dutasteride is a new drug that will soon be introduced by Glaxo Smith Kline under the brand name Avolve. Dutasteride was originally intended to be a treatment for BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) but researchers have also discovered that this medication is very effective for individuals with male pattern baldness.
BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate glands and is fairly common among men over 50. BPH usually manifest in a variety of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as urinary frequency, urgency, nightime urination, decrease in urinary stream, incomplete emptying and incontinence etc.
Researchers have discovered that DHT or Dihydrotestosterone is the main androgen responsible for prostate growth. Two types of 5AR (5-alpha Reductase) enzymes (Type I and Type II) have been identified to be responsible for converting the male hormone testosterone into
DHT.
The relationship between DHT induced prostate enlargement and DHT induced hair miniaturizaion is illustrated in the following graph by GSK. As you can tell, it is suggested by scientists that both Type I and Type II 5AR are responsible for hair miniaturization as well as prostate
enlargement.
Unlike Finasterdie (Propecia or Proscar) which only inhibits Type II 5AR, Dutasteride functions as a dual 5AR inhibitors and have been proven to be more effective as an treatment for BPH and possibly hair loss. Dutasteride has shown to exhibit significantly less inter-individual variation in the level of DHT suppression compared to Finasteride. See graph below
Scientists have evaluated the effectiveness of Dutasteride at different daily dosage, ranging from 0.01 mg, 0.05 mg, 0.5 mg, 2.5 mg, and 5.0 mg per day. It was found that the highest suppression of DHT was achieved with 2.5 mg or 5.0 mg per day. At a daily dosage of 2.5 mg or 5.0 mg, Dutasteride suppresses close to 100% of the DHT whereas 5.0 mg daily dosage of Finasteride only suppresses close to 70% of the DHT. According to the graph provided by GSK, the level of DHT suppression does not seem to different significantly between 2.5 mg and 5.0 mg.
Current status - sNDA full 2-year data has already been filed with the FDA for approval.
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