Minoxidil Dose Response Study in Females Identified Through IVD Testing as Non-Responders to 5% Topical Minoxidil

Condition(s) targeted: Female Pattern Hair Loss; Androgenetic Alopecia

Intervention: 5% Topical Minoxidil Solution (Drug); 15% Topical Minoxidil Solution (Drug)

Phase: N/A

Status: Not yet recruiting

Sponsored by: Maja Kovacevic, MD

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Maja Kovacevic, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: University of Rome, Italy ("G. Marconi")

Overall contact:
Alessandra Palmieri, Email: proricerca@hotmail.it

5% topical minoxidil is the maximum dosage approved by the US FDA for the treatment of female pattern hair loss. While topical minoxidil exhibits a good safety profile, the efficacy in the overall population is relatively low i. e., 30-40% re-grow hair. The primary purpose of this study is to assess if a higher dosage of topical minoxidil dosage (15%) will increase the number of responders among female subjects that have been identified through IVD testing as non-responders to 5% topical minoxidil.

Official title: Minoxidil Dose Response Study in Females Identified Through IVD Testing as Non-Responders to 5% Topical Minoxidil

Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Primary outcome:

Target Area Hair Count

Subjects Ratings

Secondary outcome:

Target Area Hair Count

Expert Panel Global Photography Assessment

Detailed description: Approximately, 40% of women suffer from female pattern hair loss by the age of 55. Currently, there is only one drug approved by the US FDA for the treatment of female pattern

hair loss (AGA) - topical minoxidil.

5% topical minoxidil is the maximum dosage approved by the US FDA for the treatment of female AGA. While topical minoxidil exhibits a good safety profile, the efficacy in the overall population is relatively low i. e., 30-40% re-grow hair. Minoxidil is a pro-drug. To elicit a clinical response, minoxidil must be converted to its active form minoxidil sulfate by a sulfotransferase enzyme found in hair follicles. The investigators have developed an in-vitro diagnostic test that correctly identifies, prior to initiating therapy, 95. 9% of non-responders to 5% topical minoxidil. The diagnostic test analyzes the sulfotransferase enzymatic activity in hair follicles to determine if a sufficient amount of minoxidil will be converted to the active form required to induce hair growth. Subjects with low enzymatic activity experience little or no therapeutic benefit and a reduced frequency of adverse events. Consequently, the investigators hypothesize that in subjects with low enzymatic activity (i. e., low minoxidil metabolizers) an increased minoxidil dosage will elicit a therapeutic response with little or no increase in the frequency of adverse events. It is thus the primary purpose of this study to assess if a higher dosage of topical minoxidil dosage (15%) will increase the number of responders among female subjects that have been identified through IVD testing as non-responders to 5% topical minoxidil.

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: 55 Years. Gender(s): Female.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Females in overall good health

- Age: 18 to 55

- Female pattern hair loss (Sinclair 2-4)

- Willing to have a mini dot tattoo placed in the target area of the scalp

- Willing to maintain the same hair style, color, shampoo and hair products use, and

approximate hair length throughout the study

- Able to give informed consent

- Non-responder to 5% minoxidil as determined by the MX-IVD test i. e., low minoxidil

metabolizer

- Able to comply with the study requirements for 24 consecutive weeks

- Willing to use an adequate method of birth control (if applicable)

- Negative urine pregnancy test

Exclusion Criteria:

- Previous adverse event from topical minoxidil treatment

- History of hypotension

- Uncontrolled hypertension

- Use of any hypertensive drugs

- Pregnant, nursing, or planning a pregnancy during the study

- Prior hair transplant

- Uses wigs or hair weaves

- Have used minoxidil (topical or oral) anytime during the past 6 months

- Chronic scalp disorders that require medications

- Uses medication known to cause hair thinning such as Coumadin and

anti-depressants/anti-psychotics

- Folliculitis

- Scalp psoriasis

- Seborrheic dermatitis

- Inflammatory scalp conditions such as lichen planopilaris

- Enrolled in any other medical study or has been enrolled in any medical study in the

past 30 days

- Responder to 5% minoxidil as determined by the MX-IVD test

Alessandra Palmieri, Email: proricerca@hotmail.it

Istituto Scienze Dermatologiche, Florence, Tuscany, Italy; Not yet recruiting
Alessandra F Palmieri, Email: proricerca@hotmail.it
Maja Kovacevic, MD, Principal Investigator

Related publications:

Roberts J, Desai N, McCoy J, Goren A. Sulfotransferase activity in plucked hair follicles predicts response to topical minoxidil in the treatment of female androgenetic alopecia. Dermatol Ther. 2014 Jul-Aug;27(4):252-4. doi: 10.1111/dth.12130. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Goren A, Castano JA, McCoy J, Bermudez F, Lotti T. Novel enzymatic assay predicts minoxidil response in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Dermatol Ther. 2014 May-Jun;27(3):171-3. doi: 10.1111/dth.12111. Epub 2013 Nov 27.

Buhl AE, Waldon DJ, Baker CA, Johnson GA. Minoxidil sulfate is the active metabolite that stimulates hair follicles. J Invest Dermatol. 1990 Nov;95(5):553-7.

Messenger AG, Rundegren J. Minoxidil: mechanisms of action on hair growth. Br J Dermatol. 2004 Feb;150(2):186-94. Review.

Starting date: June 2015
Last updated: June 29, 2015