Doctor Hawkshaw’s team from Manchester University published in the scientific journal Plos Biology the results of a study on an osteoporosis medicine’s ability to grow human hair. This medicine is known as WAY-346606.

Researchers studied biological and molecular mechanisms which may happen in the dermal papilla of human hair grown in the lab. They found SFRP1, a small molecule already known to block skin growth, may be responsible for the non-growth of the hair. This discovery was possible thanks to a medicine: Cyclosporin A (CsA), which has been used for more than 30 years as an anti-reject drug for transplanted patients and to cure various autoimmune diseases. The researchers chose Cyclosporin A because many patients complained about body hair growth.

They proved Cyclosporin A could inhibit SFRP1’s action and help the hair to grow. However, Cyclosporin A is toxic and has many adverse effects, so it is non-reasonable to treat baldness. So researchers studied another medicine that could block SFRP1 protein’s action. WAY-316606, an osteoporosis drug, does it and may help to grow hair in a lab without Cyclosporin A.

It is an exciting discovery, which needs further studies and clinical trials before people can purchase it as a treatment for hair loss.