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ABSTRACT FROM ARTICLES ON HAIR LOSS
| TITLE |
- FDA FINDS THAT BALDNESS PILL WORKS
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| SUMMARY FROM |
- The Associated Press - 11/14/97 PRNewswire
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| AUTHOR |
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| THE ARTICLE TALKS ABOUT: |
- The first ever oral medication for baldness is getting closer to
obtaining FDA's stamp of approval today.
- If the drug is approved by the FDA, it will be manufactured by
Merck & Co under the name Propecia. The generic content of the drug is 1mg
finasteride.
- The panel of scientific advisers today concluded that Propecia is
effective in treating hair loss. Now the next hurdle for Merck & Co is to get FDA's
stamp of approval for Propecia.
- The drug works by blocking the enzyme 5-alpha reductase in our
body. The presence of the enzyme converts the male hormone testosterone into DHT - a more
potent derivative of testosterone which is believed to be the main cause for male pattern
baldness.
- The final decision remains with the FDA. Although the panel of
scientific advisers concluded that Propecia is effective in treating hair loss, FDA has to
decide whether the drug is SAFE to use. Since the drug works by regulating , to a certain
extent, the male hormone, concerns about fertility, potency and birth defects have been
raised.
- FDA may require Merck & Co to extend its clinical testing on
Propecia before issuing the stamp of approval.
- At the moment, current clinical studies show that about 2% of the
participants who took Propecia experienced a decrease in sex drive and potency.
- Merck & Co concluded that Propecia is not a miracle drug for
hair loss. Results of the clinical testing show that about 25% of the participants
reported varying degrees of hair growth. However, nobody grew a full head of hair and if
the participant stopped taking the drug, the new hair will fall off.
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