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minoxidil (Headway / minoxidil, Pacific)

✓ Approved

Pacific Pharmaceuticals · Small Molecule · Small Molecule

What is minoxidil?

minoxidil is a small molecule developed by Pacific Pharmaceuticals. It is approved for therapeutic indications.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesHeadway, minoxidil, Pacific
CompanyPacific Pharmaceuticals
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Pacific Pharmaceuticals

Therapeutic Indications

minoxidil is developed for 2 unique indications across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersSkin disorder✓ Approved
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersDermatosis✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedInternational journal of dermatology2026-10-15

Topical Finasteride 0.25% Solution for Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) in Postmenopausal Women: A 52-Week Retrospective Observational Study.

Piraccini Bianca Maria BM, Gupta Aditya K AK, Cedirian Stephano S, Rapparini Luca L et al.

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL), characterized by progressive follicular miniaturization, is the most common cause of hair thinning in women and increases in prevalence after menopause. While topical minoxidil is approved for FPHL, clinical response is variable. Oral finasteride is used off label in postmenopausal women but raises concerns regarding systemic adverse effects. Topical finasteride may represent an alternative with reduced systemic exposure. A retrospective observational study was conducted in 26 postmenopausal women with FPHL who were treated with topical finasteride 0.25% monotherapy for 52 weeks. Clinical and trichoscopic images obtained at baseline and Week 52 were used to assess changes in hair density, hair thickness, and the terminal-to-vellus hair ratio in predefined target areas in frontal or vertex regions. Patient-reported tolerability and compliance, as well as patient- and clinician-reported effectiveness, were assessed using 3-point ordinal scales. Mean hair density increased from 149.48 ± 34.32 to 172.84 ± 35.29 hairs/cm2 (p < 0.001). Hair thickness increased from 40.42 ± 7.15 μm to 51.04 ± 9.28 μm (p < 0.001), and terminal-to-vellus hair ratio increased from 1.04 ± 0.61 to 1.56 ± 0.64 (p < 0.001). Subjective patient and clinician assessments indicated good-to-excellent effectiveness. No adverse events were recorded; tolerability and compliance were rated highly by patients. Topical finasteride 0.25% monotherapy was associated with significant improvements in hair density and thickness, alongside favorable reported tolerability and compliance. These findings provide preliminary real-world observational data regarding topical finasteride use in the underserved population of postmenopausal women with FPHL.

PMID 42876360
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PubMedCurrent oncology reports2026-10-14

Minoxidil and Prostaglandin Analogs for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Scoping Review.

Iimura Yohei Y, Yokota Tomoya T, Hashimoto Hironobu H, Kuroda Seiichiro S

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is common, distressing, and markedly impairs patients' quality of life. Although scalp cooling is the only approved preventive strategy, its effectiveness and accessibility remain limited. Therefore, alternative pharmacologic approaches, such as minoxidil and prostaglandin analogs, have been explored. This scoping review aimed to explore the available evidence on minoxidil's efficacy and safety and the potential role of prostaglandin analogs in alopecia. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medical Online, and Ichushi-Web were comprehensively searched from inception to February 2026. Studies evaluating minoxidil in CIA and prostaglandin analogs in any alopecia type were included. Case reports, case series, and non-human studies were excluded. Seven studies were included. Five studies evaluated minoxidil in CIA, including two randomized controlled trials and three retrospective studies on prophylactic and therapeutic use, respectively. Prophylactic topical minoxidil did not markedly prevent CIA but was associated with earlier hair regrowth. In contrast, therapeutic use-particularly of oral minoxidil-improved hair density and treatment response. No serious adverse events were reported, although cardiovascular effects remain a concern with oral formulations. Two randomized controlled trials evaluated prostaglandin analogs in non-chemotherapy-related alopecia and showed markedly improved hair density and regrowth. However, no study directly assessed their efficacy in CIA. Minoxidil may be beneficial for hair regrowth in CIA but shows limited preventive efficacy. Prostaglandin analogs are promising but untested in this setting. Future studies should evaluate their role, particularly in combination with minoxidil, to address the current evidence gap and improve outcomes for patients with CIA.

PMID 42873375
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PubMedClinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology2026-10-13

Exploratory Identification of Multidimensional Treatment-Response Profiles in Androgenetic Alopecia Treated with Combined Scalp Microneedling and Topical Minoxidil Using Unsupervised Clustering.

Wu Yibei Y, Liu Dihui D, Lin Ying-Mei YM, Tang Hui H et al.

Combination therapy with scalp microneedling and topical minoxidil is more effective than minoxidil alone in androgenetic alopecia (AGA), yet treatment responses vary considerably among patients and the multidimensional structure of this heterogeneity remains poorly characterized. To explore whether unsupervised clustering identifies distinct multidimensional treatment-response profiles during combination therapy and to describe their clinical and molecular characteristics as a hypothesis-generating basis for personalized management. In this prospective cohort study, 156 patients with AGA received standardized combination therapy (microneedling 1.0 mm depth, biweekly; 5% topical minoxidil, twice daily) for 24 weeks, with longitudinal trichoscopic, molecular and clinical assessments. K-means clustering was applied to ten standardized treatment-response (change-from-baseline) variables; the number of clusters was examined by silhouette, gap-statistic and bootstrap-stability analyses, and between-profile differences were tested with assumption-appropriate methods and reported with effect sizes. Silhouette analysis indicated weak global cluster structure (k=2, 0.274; k=3, 0.168); a three-cluster solution was retained as an exploratory, clinically motivated grouping and labelled Robust (n=45, 28.8%), Moderate (n=56, 35.9%) and Limited (n=55, 35.3%) responders. Profiles differed across the response variables that defined them, including hair-density change (36.25±19.07 vs 17.76±10.93 hairs/cm2 for Robust vs Limited; ε2=0.19) and Wnt10b transcript change (0.80±0.37 vs 0.27±0.19; ε2=0.34). Baseline clinical and molecular parameters, including LEF-1 and IGF-1, did not differ across profiles and did not predict profile membership. Unsupervised clustering identified three clinically interpretable treatment-response profiles accompanied by graded differences in Wnt/β-catenin-associated transcript changes. Because the profiles showed weak internal separation and could not be predicted from baseline characteristics, these hypothesis-generating findings suggest, rather than demonstrate, multidimensional structure in treatment response and require validation in independent, controlled cohorts before any clinical application.

PMID 42866572
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PubMedDermatology practical & conceptual2026-10-11

Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil in Patients with Alopecia: An Underrecognized Association.

Soares João J, Martínez-Sellés Manuel M, Soares Rui Oliveira RO

Low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) has become an increasingly used therapy for alopecia. While dose-dependent hypertrichosis is the most common side effect, gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects are plausible due to smooth muscle relaxation, but they have not been systematically reported in clinical studies. To investigate the frequency and characteristics of GI adverse effects in patients treated with LDOM for alopecia. We conducted a prospective observational study at a trichology unit including patients attending their second consultation after initiating oral minoxidil between May and August 2025. A structured questionnaire assessed new GI symptoms, temporal relationship with treatment, and concomitant medication use. Among 302 patients (218 females, 84 males; mean age 46 years), 22 (7.3%) reported new GI symptoms. The most frequent symptoms were flatulence (N=18), heartburn (N=13), abdominal distension (N=12), abdominal pain (N=10), and aerophagia (N=7). Symptoms resolved after discontinuation in 15 of 16 cases and recurred after reintroduction in 14 of 15. A dose-response association was observed (mean dose in patients with GI symptoms 2.7 ± 1.6 mg vs. 1.3 ± 1.2 mg in those without, P=0.01). GI side effects were more common in males (15.5%) than in females (4.1%, P<0.001) and in patients treated with concomitant vasodilators (25.6% vs. 4.6%, P<0.001). GI complaints, particularly aerophagia, abdominal pain or distension, and flatulence, appear to be underrecognized adverse effects of LDOM. Although generally mild, these symptoms may affect adherence and quality of life. Clinicians should inquire about GI complaints, especially in male patients receiving higher doses or concomitant vasodilators.

PMID 42858418
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PubMedJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology2026-10-08

Oral Minoxidil for Alopecia in Systemic Sclerosis, Dermatomyositis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, and Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease: A Retrospective Chart Review on Cardiovascular Risk.

Zappi Isabella I, Spindler Archie A, Maas Derek D, Zaminski Devyn D et al.

PMID 42849748
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PubMedPediatric dermatology2026-10-08

Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome: A Scoping Review.

Shenderey Romy R, Land Hailey H, McMullen Eric E, Giansante Daniela D et al.

Loose anagen hair syndrome (LAHS) is a rare, non-scarring alopecia that may occur sporadically or follow autosomal dominant inheritance. The objective of this study was to review the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic features (including trichoscopy, trichogram, and microscopy), natural history, and treatment outcomes of LAHS. A scoping review was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CENTRAL databases. Seventy-six studies, encompassing 425 patients with LAHS (mean age: 6.2 years), were included. Most patients were female (78.6%) with Type A LAHS (88.5%). The most common trichoscopic findings were follicular units containing single hairs (92.9%) and rectangular black granular structures (57.5%). Genetic associations included mutations in keratin genes (e.g., KRT32, KRT71, and related keratin family genes) and syndromic overlap, most prominently Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair. 16.8% received treatment, primarily with topical minoxidil (88.2%). Complete resolution occurred in 14.7% of treated patients and two untreated patients. Evidence was limited predominantly to case reports and case series, with inconsistent follow-up data. LAHS should be considered in children presenting with diffuse shedding and easily extractable hair. Topical or oral minoxidil may be beneficial, but further studies are needed to clarify the natural history and comparative effectiveness of treatment.

PMID 42844814
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