New Hair Loss Treatments 2026. Clascoterone And PP405 Explained
Two treatments dominate hair loss news in 2026. Clascoterone is a topical anti-androgen that blocks DHT at the scalp without affecting hormones elsewhere, with Phase 3 trials in 1,465 men. PP405 is a topical designed to wake dormant follicles. Neither is licensed for hair loss in the UK yet, and a US filing for clascoterone is planned for early 2027. Follicles lost while waiting do not come back.
Key points
In the Phase 3 SCALP 1 and SCALP 2 trials, clascoterone 5% produced relative improvements in target-area hair count of 539% and 168% over the inactive solution, with side effects similar to it.
At 12 months, men who stayed on clascoterone had a 2.39 times greater improvement in hair count than those switched to the inactive solution after 6 months.
In a Phase 2a trial of 78 people, 31% of men with more advanced loss treated with PP405 had more than a 20% increase in hair density at week 8, against 0% on placebo.
Neither is available for hair loss in the UK. Pattern hair loss keeps progressing meanwhile, and treatments with established evidence, including PRP, are available now.
Waiting for new treatments while your hair thins? Message a GMC-registered doctor on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
Clascoterone
What it is
Clascoterone is an androgen receptor blocker applied to the skin. It stops DHT, the hormone that shrinks genetically sensitive follicles, from acting at the scalp. It is broken down quickly once absorbed, so it is designed to act locally without lowering hormones throughout the body.
That is the main reason for the interest. Finasteride works well by lowering DHT across the whole body, and a minority of men experience sexual side effects as a result. A treatment that blocks DHT only where it matters would remove the main reason many men avoid the most effective option.
A 1% cream version is already approved in some countries for acne. The 5% solution studied for hair loss is a different product at a different strength.
What the trials showed
The two Phase 3 trials, SCALP 1 and SCALP 2, enrolled 1,465 men across the United States and Europe. After 6 months, clascoterone produced relative improvements in target-area hair count of 539% in SCALP 1 and 168% in SCALP 2, compared with the inactive solution. Side effects were comparable between the two groups, and there was minimal effect on hormones elsewhere in the body.
The 12-month data were released in April 2026. Men who continued clascoterone had a 2.39 times greater improvement in hair count than those switched to the inactive solution after 6 months. No significant hormonal side effects were seen over the year.
How to read those numbers
Relative improvements sound large because the comparison group changes very little. The trials were run in men only, so there is no data yet for women. The two trials gave quite different results, which is why the full published data will matter.
When it may be available
The manufacturer has said it is preparing applications to the US Food and Drug Administration and to European regulators, with the US filing planned for early 2027. No UK timetable has been given. Realistically, a licensed UK product for hair loss is some way off.
Do not apply the acne cream to your scalp as a substitute. It is a different strength and formulation, it has not been tested for this use, and unlicensed use should only follow a doctor's assessment.
Want a plan that works now? Ask our doctors on WhatsApp.
PP405
What it is
PP405 is a topical treatment designed to target dormant hair follicle stem cells. Existing treatments mostly help follicles that are still growing hair, even if that hair has become thin. PP405 is designed to restart growth in follicles that have stopped producing visible hair.
What the trials showed
A Phase 2a randomised controlled trial of 78 men and women applied PP405 once daily for 4 weeks, with 12 weeks of follow-up. At week 8, among men with more advanced hair loss, 31% of those treated had more than a 20% increase in hair density, compared with 0% on placebo. The company reported new hair growing from follicles where no hair had previously been present. No PP405 was detected in the blood.
How to read those numbers
These are early results from a small, short trial. They are interesting because the mechanism is new, not because they prove long-term benefit. Larger and longer late-stage trials are expected to begin in 2026, and a licensed product, if the trials succeed, is likely several years away.
Other headlines worth a sentence each
Exosomes are widely marketed for hair and skin. In the UK, the MHRA treats injected exosome products as unlicensed medicinal products, and human evidence is limited. The insurer Hamilton Fraser has advised practitioners to proceed with extreme caution.
JAK inhibitors now treat severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune form of patchy hair loss. They do not treat pattern hair loss. We explain them in alopecia areata treatment London.
What to do while you wait
Why waiting is expensive
Pattern hair loss is progressive. Follicles respond to treatment while they are shrinking. Once they have closed, no current treatment brings them back, and early trial results are not a reason to stop protecting the hair you have. Someone at Norwood 3 today who waits 3 years for a new drug may be at Norwood 5 when it arrives.
What works now
Finasteride and minoxidil remain the best-established medications. A 2025 meta-analysis reconfirmed the combination as the strongest standard pairing. For men who will not take a DHT blocker, the side effect evidence is set out in finasteride side effects. Low-dose oral minoxidil is covered in oral minoxidil for hair loss.
PRP uses growth factors from your own blood and has no hormonal action. A 2025 meta-analysis in Dermatology and Therapy pooled 43 randomised controlled trials and 1,877 participants and found it increases hair density. Pooled data show PRP combined with minoxidil outperforms either alone. The detail is in PRP hair treatment London.
Blood tests matter in every case. Low ferritin, thyroid problems and low vitamin D all blunt any hair treatment, new or old. The full panel is in the hair loss blood panel.
Will current treatment conflict with new drugs later
There is no reason to expect so. If clascoterone is licensed, it is likely to be used alongside other treatments rather than instead of them, much as finasteride and minoxidil are combined today. Hair preserved now is hair that any future treatment can work on.
What treatment costs in London
Flagship Harley Street and Mayfair clinics commonly charge £600 to £850 or more per PRP session, and London practices generally charge 50 to 70 percent more than clinics outside the capital. A course of 3 sessions with maintenance every 6 to 12 months is standard.
Our care is doctor-led and priced below flagship rates, with your plan and the figure confirmed after your free suitability review. Blood testing is run from the same clinic.
Ask what your plan would cost. Message us on WhatsApp.
The suitability review
Every enquiry begins with a free doctor-led suitability review rather than a booking. A GMC-registered doctor examines your scalp with dermoscopy, reviews or arranges your blood tests, and gives one of two answers.
Approved for treatment, with a plan that protects your hair now and would sit alongside a new treatment if one is licensed. Or not approved, with an honest explanation of what would serve you better. That might be correcting a deficiency, or reassurance that your shedding is temporary.
We will also keep you honestly informed as new treatments progress. We will not sell you something that is not yet licensed.
Why people choose The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness
The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness is a doctor-led, blood-test-first clinic at 10 Portman Square in Marylebone and the Light Centre in Belgravia. Every treatment is performed by GMC-registered doctors. No clinician treats a patient here until they have completed 100 supervised treatments.
Across our work we report an 87 percent patient success rate, a 32 percent average density increase in hair restoration and more than 187 five-star reviews. Every treatment we offer is set out in PRP treatment London.
Book your free suitability review. Message us on WhatsApp, email team@thewellnesslondon.com, or call +44 20 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions about new hair loss treatments
What is clascoterone for hair loss?
A topical androgen receptor blocker that stops DHT acting at the scalp without lowering hormones elsewhere in the body. Phase 3 trials in 1,465 men showed improvements in hair count with side effects similar to an inactive solution.
When will clascoterone be available in the UK?
It is not licensed for hair loss in the UK. The manufacturer plans a US filing in early 2027 and a European application. No UK timetable has been given.
What is PP405?
A topical treatment designed to reactivate dormant hair follicle stem cells. In a Phase 2a trial of 78 people, 31% of men with more advanced loss had more than a 20% increase in hair density at week 8, against 0% on placebo.
Can I use clascoterone acne cream on my scalp?
It is a different strength and formulation, and it has not been tested for hair loss. Any unlicensed use should only follow a doctor's assessment.
Should I wait for new treatments before starting?
No. Pattern hair loss progresses, and follicles that close do not come back. Established treatments, including PRP, minoxidil and finasteride, protect the hair you have now.
Are exosomes a proven new hair treatment?
No. The MHRA treats injected exosome products as unlicensed medicinal products, and human evidence is limited.
This article is for information and does not replace personal medical advice. Clascoterone and PP405 are investigational for hair loss and not licensed for this use in the UK. Trial results and regulatory timelines may change. All treatments at The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness are performed by GMC-registered doctors. Medically reviewed by the GMC-registered medical team at The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness. Last updated September 2026.
