{"id":2531,"date":"2026-05-18T12:09:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T12:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=2531"},"modified":"2026-05-18T12:09:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T12:09:54","slug":"pelage-pharmaceuticals-phase-3-trials-for-pp405-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=2531","title":{"rendered":"Pelage Pharmaceuticals Phase 3 Trials for PP405 in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Pelage Pharmaceuticals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I originally wrote this post on Pelage Pharmaceuticals and its PP405 topical hair growth product in 2023. For all of the older updates, scroll till the end of this page. Also check out my 2017 post<\/a> on Pelage founder and president Dr. William Lowry\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

Update: March 28, 2026<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pelage PP405: New Hair Growth from Inactive Follicular Units<\/h3>\n

Several hours ago, Pelage Pharmaceuticals made its much anticipated<\/a> presentation at the 2026 AAD Annual Meeting in Denver. An earlier interview with CEO Daniel Gil and Chief Medical Officer Christina Weng can be read here.<\/a> They did not mention anything about the ongoing Phase 3 trials.<\/p>\n

The livestream of today\u2019s morning session is available on Vimeo<\/a>. The session titled \u201cEmerging treatments for hair loss targeting dormant hair follicles<\/em>\u201d starts at 1:21:09. The Pelage PP405 section runs from 1:26:38 through 1:35:10.\u00a0 They cover the results of their Phase 2a trial<\/a> of the PP405 topical gel. They did not cover the results from the Phase 2b trial, which was completed towards the end of 2025.<\/p>\n

In case the video is taken down, a wonderful person on X named @suwakopro has posted all the key images. The main image that we are interesting in shows new hair growth from previously inactive follicular units (circled in red). The before and after images shown below are from baseline and from day 84. Note that they applied\u00a0 PP405 for only 4 weeks, but then had a follow-up through 12 weeks. Other images from today\u2019s presentation show vellus hair thickening via blue circles.<\/p>\n

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Pelage PP405 new hair growth from inactive follicular units.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pelage Pharmaceuticals<\/h2>\n

I previously wrote about Pelage Pharmaceuticals<\/a>\u00a0in my 2019 post related to the research of its President and co-founder Dr. William Lowry<\/a>. The other co-founders are Dr. Heather Christofk and Michael Jung. I also covered the findings of Dr. Lowry and Dr. Christofk\u2019s UCLA team<\/a> in a 2017 post.<\/p>\n

These UCLA researchers discovered two topical compounds (RCGD423) and (UK5099) that regrew hair in mice via different mechanisms. Both drugs involve an increase in lactate production. This in turn activates hair follicle stem cells and leads to increased and quicker hair growth.<\/p>\n

Dr. Lowry\u2019s patent can be found here<\/a>. Patent and technology rights to both topical drugs have been exclusively licensed to Pelage Pharmaceuticals by UCLA<\/a>. The hair loss drug that the company plans to release is called PP405, a topical inhibitor of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC).<\/p>\n

RCGD423<\/h4>\n

RCGD423 activates the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which in turn leads to an increase in lactate production. This extra lactate activates hair follicle stem cells and results in quicker hair growth. The main 2017 study on RCGD423, lactate dehydrogenase activity and hair follicle stem cell activation can be read here<\/a>. I also covered it in my earlier linked posts related to the work of Pelage co-founders Dr. William Lowry and Dr. Heather Christofk.<\/p>\n

UK5099<\/h4>\n

UK5099, blocks pyruvate (a glucose metabolite) from entering cell mitochondria<\/a>. This also results in an increase in lactate production in the hair follicle stem cells, and therefore accelerates hair growth. There is a 2015 study<\/a> from China related to the application of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier blocker UK5099 and its effects on prostate cancer cells.<\/p>\n

Where can you buy PP405?<\/h3>\n

A number of companies are currently selling their own compounded version of PP405 online. However, this hair loss drug is not yet even officially approved for sale by the US FDA. I would recommend not buying this product from such sketchy vendors, often charging a hefty price for an untested product.<\/p>\n

PP405 Trial Signup<\/h3>\n

Pelage now has a sign-up page<\/a> for you to stay in the loop and potentially participate in Phase 3 clinical trials that begin in 2026. Pelage\u2019s main website<\/a> was also updated recently.<\/p>\n

Update: October 15, 2025<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pelage Raises $120 Million. Phase 3 Trials in 2026.<\/h2>\n

In an insane development, Pelage just raised $120 million in Series B Financing. The round was co-led by ARCH Venture Partners and GV (Google Ventures), with participation from a few existing investors. This amount might be a record in the hair loss world. No wonder this post has over 900 comments, an all-time high for this site.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe financing will support the continued advancement of Pelage\u2019s lead program, PP405, a topical small molecule designed to reactivate dormant hair follicle stem cells, offering a potential first-in-class approach for both men and women experiencing hair loss.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Update: June 17, 2025<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pelage Announces Positive Results of Phase 2a Trials for Hair Loss Drug PP405<\/h3>\n

Google Ventures (GV) backed Pelage Pharmaceuticals (US) just announced positive Phase 2a clinical trial results<\/a> for PP405, its novel hair growth drug. The trial entails 78 men and women with androgenetic alopecia. Key quote:<\/p>\n

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\u201cPP405 induced new hair growth from follicles where no hair was previously present<\/strong> \u2014 offering early validation of its regenerative potential.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Note that the trial participants just had 4 weeks of treatment. At another 4 weeks after the completion of this treatment (\u201cin men with a higher degree of hair loss\u201d), 31% of those treated with PP405 exhibited a greater than 20% increase in hair density. In comparison, 0% of patients in the placebo group responded favorably. These results are incredibly rapid in comparison to existing treatments.<\/p>\n

Pelage expects to begin Phase 3 trials in 2026. They will likely have no issues with fundraising.<\/p>\n

Update: August 13, 2024<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pelage Pharmaceuticals (US) just announced<\/a> that the first patients have been dosed in its Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of PP405. This drug is a novel topical small molecule for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. The company is enrolling 60 men and women in the clinical study. PP405 addresses the metabolic processes that regulate activation of hair follicle stem cells.<\/p>\n

Also of significance, Pelage raised $14 million in Series A-1 financing that was led by Google Ventures (GV)<\/strong>. This follows an initial $16.75 million Series A financing round in February 2024 (see bottom of this post). The Series A-1 is a result of positive Phase 1 data that demonstrated proof of mechanism and target engagement in patients with AGA.<\/p>\n

Update: June 12, 2024<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pelage Pharmaceuticals\u2019 Phase 2 clinical trials<\/a> of PP405 officially started on June 5, 2024. They are currently recruiting volunteers in Indiana, Minnesota, Texas and Utah. Still to come are California and Virginia. The primary completion date is December 2024, and the study completion date is February 2025. You have to be between the ages of 18-55, and once-a-week visits will be required for 16 weeks. The product comes in the form of a topical gel.<\/p>\n

Update: May 6, 2024<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pelage Pharmaceuticals Phase 2 Clinical Trials for PP405 Start in June 2024<\/h4>\n

Yesterday, a reader e-mailed a new link on Pelage Pharmaceuticals\u2019 Phase 2 clinical trials for its PP405 inhibitor of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC). The Phase 2 trials are set to begin in June 2024<\/strong> and will involve 60 participants. Half of these will take a PP405 0.05% topical gel once per day, and the other half will get a placebo vehicle daily gel. The study primary completion date is December 2024, and actual completion date is February 2025.<\/p>\n

Recruitment will likely start soon, and I assume it will be in the US based on the listed contact person and phone number. The contact e-mail is listed as clinicaltrials@pelagepharma.com. Please DO NOT call them now as the recruitment has not yet commenced and they might get annoyed.<\/p>\n

If you are between the ages of 18-55 and have androgenetic alopecia, you can participate. However, the inclusion criteria for men and women is specific:<\/p>\n