Yuyu Pharma Announces Clinical Plan for 'Dutasteride'... Targeting Hair Loss Treatment Markets in the US and Europe

Yoo Won-sang, CEO of Yuyu Pharma, is presenting at the World Congress for Hair Research.
[Photo by Yuyu Pharma]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwanju] Yoo Wonsang, CEO of Yuyu Pharma, announced on the 21st that he presented the plan to conduct clinical trials of dutasteride tablets for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) indications in the US and Europe (project name DUT) at the 'World Congress for Hair Research 2022' held in Melbourne, Australia from the 18th to 21st (local time).

The goal of DUT is to improve patient convenience by reducing the tablet size to one-third while maintaining the same 0.5 mg dose as the original drug. After preliminary meetings with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) next year, clinical trials will begin in 2024, with plans to launch in the US and European hair loss treatment markets in 2026.

CEO Yoo stated, "Although dutasteride, which is approved as a hair loss treatment and prescribed to patients in Korea and Japan, has not yet been approved for hair loss treatment in the US and Europe, we confirmed an unmet demand situation where it is prescribed off-label in medical practice. Yuyu Pharma has an advantage in R&D progress as it currently produces and sells dutasteride-containing drugs independently."

Dutasteride works by inhibiting both Type I and Type II 5-alpha reductase enzymes that convert the male hormone testosterone into DHT, a hormone that causes hair loss. Taking dutasteride prevents the production of DHT, leading to the accumulation of testosterone in the body and thereby hindering the progression of hair loss.

Meanwhile, the World Congress for Hair Research, which marked its 12th session this year, is a globally recognized conference in the field of scalp hair and hair loss treatment. About 500 participants, including medical professionals from over 40 countries, life scientists, and stakeholders from the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, exchanged various information for hair loss treatment.