Fluridil, a rationally designed topical agent for androgenetic alopecia: first clinical experience.
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.
Sovak
Milos
M
Radiology Research, University of California, San Diego, California, USA. msovak@ucsd.edu
Seligson
Allen L
AL
Kucerova
Renata
R
Bienova
Marie
M
Hajduch
Marian
M
Bucek
Milan
M
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
D000577:Amides; D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; C465678:fluridil