Lexington: Millions of people around the world who suffer from baldness will soon be able to regain their rapidly lost hair in just a few months with the use of a single drug.
A recent study of pills used twice a day found that four out of 10 people had hair growth on almost the entire head in six months.
However, the central scientist behind this invention did not expect that the drug would cure those who have lost their hair due to aging.
The medical term alopecia is used for hair loss. This condition occurs when the body attacks its own healthy hair glands.
The drug, developed by an American pharmaceutical company, works by weakening the immune response.
However, other pharmaceutical companies are also experimenting with drugs to prevent hair loss. But there is currently no definitive cure.
Rapid hair loss can lead to low self-esteem, depression and anxiety in people.
The latest trial looked at 706 people between the ages of 18 and 65 from the United States, Canada and Europe suffering from baldness for 24 weeks.
The participants were divided into three groups, one with placebo, the other with 8 mg twice daily, and the third with 12 mg twice daily.
The drug is named CTP543 and is manufactured by Concert Pharmaceutical Company.
The researchers said that the rate of hair regrowth was higher in the 8 mg and 12 mg diet groups than in the placebo group.
At the beginning of the study, only 16% of the participants had hair on their heads. But by the end of the study, more than 80% of the hair had grown again in 41.5% of the group receiving the most energy.
Adverse effects of the drug were seen in less than 5% of patients, with the most common side effects being headaches, rashes and infections.