OliX Pharmaceuticals has taken a significant step forward in the treatment of androgenic alopecia, commonly referred to as male-pattern baldness, by administering the first patient with its RNAi therapeutic, OLX72021, in a Phase I trial. This groundbreaking trial is being conducted at a clinical study facility in Australia, following approval from Australia’s Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee (Bellberry HREC) in March.
The primary goal of the trial is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of OLX72021 when administered through a single intradermal injection. The study involves up to 30 healthy males suffering from androgenic alopecia, divided into five cohorts. These participants will receive OLX72021 in various dosages or a placebo, with follow-up monitoring over eight weeks post-injection in six alopecia areas near the patients’ crown.
OLX72021 operates by suppressing the hormone activity responsible for androgenic alopecia through the minimization of androgen receptor (AR) expression. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated the therapy's long-term efficacy, offering a promising alternative to current hair loss treatments that require frequent administration. Unlike existing treatments, OLX72021 is topically injected into the scalp, maintaining high concentration in subcutaneous hair loss areas and degrading quickly upon exposure to blood, potentially avoiding side effects such as sexual dysfunction or depression.
OliX Pharmaceuticals secured a patent for OLX72021 in the US in 2021. Following the confirmation of OLX72021's safety in human bodies during the Phase I trial in Australia, the company plans to develop new hair loss cosmeceuticals, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of androgenic alopecia.
