Piraccini BM, Blume-Peytavi U, Scarci F, et al. - Findings demonstrate the efficacy of topical finasteride in significantly improving hair count when compared with placebo, as well as its good tolerability, in men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

• This randomized, double-blind, double dummy, parallel-group, 24-week study included adult male outpatients with AGA, to assess efficacy and safety of topical finasteride vs placebo, and evaluate systemic exposure and overall benefit relative to oral finasteride.

• A significantly greater change from baseline in target area hair count (TAHC) was observed at week 24 in patients treated with topical finasteride than placebo (adjusted mean change 20.2 vs 6.7 hairs), and was numerically similar between topical and oral finasteride.

• Topical finasteride was superior to placebo, in terms of change from baseline in TAHC at week 12 and change from baseline in patient hair growth/loss at week 24.

• Topical finasteride’s impact was similar to that of oral finasteride, but with markedly lower systemic exposure and less influence on serum dihydrotestosterone levels.