PP‑405
Topical small molecule, a MITOCHONDRIAL PYRUVATE CARRIER (MPC) inhibitor (Pelage). ENTIRELY NEW, metabolic mechanism: it shifts the metabolism of hair-follicle stem cells toward glycolysis/lactate, thereby activating dormant follicles. INVESTIGATIONAL: phase 1/2a, not approved, not an antiandrogen.
WHAT IS PP-405?
Detailed overview
PP-405 (Pelage Pharmaceuticals, UCLA-derived) is a topical small molecule that inhibits the MITOCHONDRIAL PYRUVATE CARRIER (MPC) – an ENTIRELY NEW approach to hair loss, radically different from minoxidil and antiandrogens. The underlying discovery: activation of hair-follicle stem cells is tied to glycolytic, lactate-producing metabolism (Flores et al., Nat Cell Biol 2017, PMID 28812580). If MPC is inhibited so that pyruvate is not burned in the mitochondria, the cell shifts toward glycolysis/lactate, which activates DORMANT (telogen) hair-follicle stem cells and initiates a new growth phase (inhibition of pyruvate oxidation stimulates the hair cycle, Exp Dermatol 2021, PMID 33739490). PP-405 targets this metabolic switch. CLINICAL STATUS: after a phase 1 (good tolerability), Pelage tested it in a phase 2a study (2024-2025); it is NOT APPROVED ANYWHERE, and there is still no PP-405-specific, peer-reviewed clinical efficacy paper. So it is a promising candidate, well grounded in its mechanism, but STILL CLINICALLY UNPROVEN and at the earliest stage.
Developer
Pelage Pharmaceuticals (UCLA-derived)
Status
INVESTIGATIONAL – phase 1/2a (2024-2025); not approved
Mechanism of action
Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) inhibition → hair-follicle stem cell activation (metabolic, NOT antiandrogen)
Evidence
Strong preclinical mechanism; no PP-405-specific clinical efficacy published yet
Access
Clinical trial only; not available as a routine treatment
Data console
Lab data
Safety
Side effects, stop signs, contraindications
Side effects · 3
- Early clinical phase – limited human safety data: PP-405 is in phase 1/2a; phase 1 reported good tolerability, but the full side-effect profile is still accruing.
- Local scalp reaction (expected): the topical form may cause local irritation (redness, itching); exact rates will come from ongoing trials.
- Unknown long-term effect: as this is an entirely new metabolic target (mitochondrial pyruvate carrier), long-term human safety is not yet known; not available as a routine treatment.
Contraindications · 3
- Investigational, not approved: human use outside a clinical trial cannot be supported – no approved indication or dose.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: avoid due to lack of human data.
- Broken, inflamed scalp; known hypersensitivity to the active or the vehicle.
Related Hair & Skin
Same therapeutic category
Studies
Related research and clinical findings
Inhibition of pyruvate oxidation as a versatile stimulator of the hair cycle in models of alopecia
Miranda BH, et al.
Lactate dehydrogenase activity drives hair follicle stem cell activation
Flores A, Schell J, Krall AS, et al.
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Educational hair and skin info from official sources (PubMed, FDA, EMA). Does NOT replace medical consultation. Talk to a dermatologist!
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