Andrew Verbinnen
Co-founder, HairDAO
Articles
12 articles
- Immediate Release vs. Extended Release Minoxidil: Why the Peak Matters5 min readShort answer: An immediate release tablet delivers an entire dose as one early spike. Extended release tablets spread the same dose into a lower, longer curve. This strategy can be especially useful for drugs that cause side effects over a certain dose, but have a positive clinical effect at a much lower dose. Minoxidil has been found to have both, a safety threshold where hemodynamic effects are felt and an efficacy threshold at which hair growth takes place.
- Smooth Release vs. Extended Release Minoxidil: What's the Difference?6 min readShort answer: "extended release" is a broad pharmaceutical category. "Smooth release" is our name for the specific curve MINX is aiming for: to get rid of Minoxidil's large peak. Some people already try to flatten the curve by splitting immediate-release oral minoxidil across the day. MINX approaches the problem through a lipid-matrix formulation compounded per prescription under 503A. This post shows our measured and modeled PK, along with what the two-subject pilot can't tell us, including how MINX compares with split dosing.
- Zero Order vs. First Order Release: The Six Shapes Behind Extended-Release Drugs6 min readShort answer: "extended release" does not name a curve. It names many. An extended-release product can release a fixed amount per hour, slow down as it empties, pulse twice, wait until it reaches the intestine, or deliberately speed up over time. Each shape solves a different problem. Which one an extended-release formulation follows is derived from its dissolution and pharmacokinetic data. We delve into the most sought-after release profiles below.
- Introducing MINX: A Lipid-Matrix Oral Minoxidil Designed for a Smoother Release Curve3 min readMINX launches Monday. It’s our 5 mg oral minoxidil lipid-matrix capsule, with in vitro dissolution data showing slower release versus an immediate-release comparator. Same active ingredient, designed for a more gradual release profile. Not VDPHL01, not FDA-approved extended release, and not clinical proof, but a more thoughtful approach to oral minoxidil.
- Pyrilutamide (KX-826) Phase 3 Results for Hair Loss: What the Data Actually Shows2 min readKintor Pharma announced that its topical androgen receptor antagonist pyrilutamide hit its Phase 3 primary endpoint in a 666-patient hair loss trial in China. The data is encouraging on paper, but readers should keep several caveats in mind: these are top-line company-reported results, the trial was conducted entirely in China, and Kintor has been a recurring point of debate in the hair loss community.
- National Taiwan University’s Fatty Acid Serum for Hair Loss: What the Data Actually Shows (and What It Doesn’t)9 min readResearchers at National Taiwan University published a study in Cell Metabolism showing that a topical fatty acid formulation can regrow hair in mice by activating dormant hair follicle stem cells. The mechanism is tremendously well studied. The headlines were predictable. Here’s what the evidence actually shows, and the hard questions the paper doesn’t answer.
- Clascoterone for Hair Loss: Mechanism, Evidence, and What to Expect7 min readClascoterone 5% (Breezula) is one of the most anticipated hair loss treatments in development: a topical androgen receptor antagonist that blocks DHT at the follicle without lowering systemic hormone levels. Here’s what the clinical data actually shows, how it compares to other topical anti-androgens like pyrilutamide (KX-826), and what patients should realistically expect.
- PP405 for Hair Loss: What the AAD 2026 Data Actually Shows10 min readPP405 is an investigational topical that works through a novel, non-hormonal mechanism. But does the new clinical data presented at the AAD 2026 Annual Meeting change the picture? We break down what Pelage Pharmaceuticals revealed, what it means for hair loss patients, and where our original analysis still stands.
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- Peptides for Hair Growth: What Actually Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s About to Change11 min readA science-first look at which peptides target the right pathways for androgenetic alopecia and what the FDA’s potential 2026 reclassification could mean for access.
- Best Topical Dutasteride (2026): Top 5 Brands Ranked11 min readA 2026 guide ranking the top 5 topical dutasteride brands and explaining why delivery vehicle + billing model matter more than just the % on the label.
- We Tested Topical Dutasteride for Hair Growth. Here’s What We Found4 min readOur team tested 60+ topical dutasteride formulas to find the one that delivers powerful hair growth results without the side effects. See what we found.
- Tretinoin Gel for Hair Growth2 min readHair loss affects over half the global population, but treatment innovation has lagged for decades. Now, tretinoin gel, long used in dermatology for acne and skin aging, is gaining traction as a potential aid in hair regrowth. At Anagen, we’re seeing growing patient interest in tretinoin-based formulas. Here’s what you need to know about how tretinoin works, what the evidence says, and how to use it safely and effectively for hair loss.