Scientists discover ‘cure for baldness’

A CURE for baldness could be on the horizon after British scientists discovered that an osteoporosis drug stimulates hair growth three times quicker than other drugs.

Around four in 10 men suffer male pattern baldness by the age of 45 and two thirds by the age of 60.

At the moment only two drugs, minoxidil and finasteride, are available for the treatment of male pattern baldness. But both have side effects and often produce disappointing results. The only other option open is transplantation surgery.

To find a new treatment, scientists at Manchester University first studied a cancer drug called CsA, which has the embarrassing side-effect of substantial unwanted hair growth.

They discovered the hair growth happens because the drug reduces the activity of a protein called SFRP1, which prevents the growth of hair follicles. Although CsA itself is not suitable as a baldness treatment because of its side-effects, scientists found that a drug designed to treat osteoporosis, called WAY316606, was even better at targeting the hairsuppressing protein.

In tests, follicles donated by more than 40 patients undergoing hair transplant surgery were treated with the drug and quickly went into the active phase of hair growth, sprouting 2mm of hair within just six days.