title: Fluridil, a rationally designed topical agent for androgenetic alopecia: first clinical experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fluridil, a novel topical antiandrogen, suppresses the human androgen receptor. While highly hydrophobic and hydrolytically degradable, it is systemically nonresorbable. In animals, fluridil demonstrated high local and general tolerance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a topical anti- androgen, fluridil, in male androgenetic alopecia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 20 men, for 21 days, occlusive forearm patches with 2, 4, and 6% fluridil, isopropanol, and/or vaseline were applied. In 43 men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), Norwood grade II-Va, 2% fluridil was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study after 3 months clinically by phototrichograms, hematology, and blood chemistry including analysis for fluridil, and at 9 months by phototrichograms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither fluridil nor isopropanol showed sensitization/irritation potential, unlike vaseline. In all AGA subjects, baseline anagen/telogen counts were equal. After 3 months, the average anagen percentage did not change in placebo subjects, but increased in fluridil subjects from 76% to 85%, and at 9 months to 87%. In former placebo subjects, fluridil increased the anagen percentage after 6 months from 76% to 85%. Sexual functions, libido, hematology, and blood chemistry values were normal throughout, except that at 3 months, in the spring, serum testosterone increased within the normal range equally in placebo and fluridil groups. No fluridil or its decomposition product, BP-34, was detectable in the serum at 0, 3, or 90 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical fluridil is nonirritating, nonsensitizing, nonresorbable, devoid of systemic activity, and anagen promoting after daily use in most AGA males.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Research, University of California, San Diego, California, USA. msovak@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sovak
authors.forename: Allen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Seligson
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kucerova
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bienova
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajduch
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bucek
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000577:Amides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; C465678:fluridil