Answer extracted from the Morning Brew Daily podcast — listen to the full episode below.
What are the three major companies developing new treatments for hair loss and what are their distinct approaches?
Three biotech companies are taking radically different approaches to hair loss. Cosmo is developing Clascotarone to block DHT directly at the follicle level, with FDA approval likely within a year, while Veridermix is converting minoxidil into pill form and targeting both male and female pattern baldness—positioning itself to deliver the first approved female hair loss pill in the U.S. Absci is using artificial intelligence to design an injectable shot treatment, mirroring the success model of GLP-1 medications.
The timing is notable: with pattern hair loss affecting 80 million Americans—50 million men and 30 million women—and no new drugs approved in almost three decades, the market is primed for disruption. Each company's strategy reflects a different bet on what will work best: hormonal intervention, systemic pill delivery, or injectable precision.
Three distinct pathways to the same problem
Cosmo's hormonal blocking approach targets the root cause directly. Clascotarone works by preventing the hormone that triggers male pattern baldness from activating at the hair follicle itself, sidestepping systemic side effects. This mechanism-first strategy has regulatory traction, with the company signaling approval could arrive within the next year.
Veridermix's pill strategy is equally ambitious but clinically broader. The company is reformulating minoxidil—the active ingredient in topical Rogaine—as an oral medication. The real innovation: they're the only one of the three explicitly targeting both sexes, which would make their product the first-ever approved pill for female pattern hair loss in the United States if it reaches the market. Their stock jumped nearly 500% after going public in February 2024, signaling investor conviction in this dual-sex approach.
Absci represents the AI-native bet. Their injectable treatment was designed using artificial intelligence, following the cultural and market success of GLP-1 shots for weight loss and metabolic health. This frames pattern baldness as a chronic condition deserving a regular injection, rather than a daily pill or topical application—a significant shift in patient behavior and compliance.
Discussed in detail in the Morning Brew Daily episode, the episode also explores why the pharma industry suddenly believes baldness treatment is a goldmine worthy of this level of innovation investment and capital deployment.
Key takeaways
- Cosmo's Clascotarone blocks the hormone DHT directly at the follicle, with U.S. FDA approval likely within one year.
- Veridermix is converting minoxidil into pill form and uniquely targeting both male and female pattern hair loss—potentially the first approved female hair loss pill in the U.S.
- Absci is using AI-designed technology to create an injectable shot treatment, mirroring the adoption model of GLP-1 medications for other indications.
- Pattern hair loss affects 80 million Americans, yet no new treatments have been approved in nearly three decades, creating urgent market demand.
See also
How much did Kevin Durant's early investment in Hugging Face appreciate in value?
Kevin Durant invested around $250,000 very early into Hugging Face, and that stake has now likely grown to more than $60 million, representing a 24,000% return on his investment.
What is the acquisition price of Hugging Face by NVIDIA and what hidden references does it contain?
NVIDIA agreed to pay $12,930,300,000 to acquire Hugging Face. The acquisition price contains hidden Easter egg references in its specific digits.
How does Tesla's autonomous vehicle approach differ from the rest of the industry regarding sensor technology?
Tesla uses only cameras and an AI neural net for its autonomous vehicles, while Waymo and other companies working on autonomy use LiDAR technology.