Pyrilutamide for Hair Loss: A Promising Future Treatment?

If you’re losing your hair, chances are your research has brought you to the usual solutions— minoxidil, finasteride, hair transplants, PRP therapy, or a good ol’ toupee. But what about pyrilutamide?

Yes, it’s a mouthful, but this up-and-coming drug may eventually make that list, too.

Pyrilutamide (also known as KX-826) is a topical hair loss drug that’s currently in its experimental phase (meaning you can’t get it yet). It’s garnering attention because, according to some early research, it has the potential to be a more effective treatment with fewer systemic (full-body) risks.

While we eagerly wait to see whether pyrilutamide can successfully graduate from all of its trials, let’s take a look at how it might work for hair loss, its safety considerations, and how it compares to the FDA-approved solutions we currently have.

First things first: What is pyrilutamide, exactly? In short, it’s a potential new therapy for androgenetic alopecia (AGA, also known as pattern hair loss or pattern baldness).

Scientifically speaking, pyrilutamide is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, meaning it blocks the effects of certain hormones on the scalp.

It’s not a household name just yet because, like any drug, pyrilutamide has to get through all of its experimental phases to make sure it’s safe and effective. It’s currently in clinical trials, with the hope of one day becoming an FDA-approved hair loss solution.

Pyrilutamide shows promise as a topical hair loss treatment, meaning it’s applied directly to the affected area on your scalp. As an antiandrogen, aka an androgen receptor agonist, pyrilutamide works by blocking the androgen receptors on your scalp and preventing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from causing problems.

DHT is an androgen (male hormone) and a byproduct of testosterone (the primary male sex hormone). Before you’re born and as you grow up, DHT plays a central role in your growth and development and is the fuel behind many of your male sex characteristics.

So, having some DHT is normal and necessary. Most adult men have about one-tenth as much DHT running through their bodies as they do testosterone. But when DHT has a little too much freedom, or you’re particularly sensitive to its effects, things can get dicey for your hair.

This is because DHT causes hair follicles to shrink in a process called hair miniaturization. This shortens the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle, disrupting hair growth and leading to hair loss.

There are many different causes of hair loss, but DHT hair loss usually occurs around the top of your scalp and hairline, causing bald patches or the dreaded receding hairline.

Some research shows that men with male pattern baldness have more DHT than the average guy. They also have more androgen receptors on their scalp. For these men in particular, at least in theory, pyrilutamide could really make a difference.

Pyrilutamide is being developed by Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited, a China-based pharmaceutical company. According to its website, the company is focused on developing innovative dermatology and oncology drugs with a focus on androgen receptor-related diseases.

Pharmaceuticals undergo a rigorous clinical trial process to ensure their safety and effectiveness before receiving FDA approval.

This process begins with preclinical testing in labs and animals, followed by several key phases of human clinical research:

• Phase I tests the drug's safety and dosage in a small group of healthy volunteers (around 20 to 100 people).

• Phase II evaluates its effectiveness and side effects in a larger group of people with the targeted condition (like AGA, in pyrilutamide’s case). This can take several months to two years.

• Phase III involves even more participants (300 to 3,000) to confirm effectiveness, monitor side effects, and compare it to existing treatments. This can take up to four years.

• Phase IV—which 25 to 30 percent of drugs reach—continues to study the drug among several thousand volunteers with the targeted condition.

If all phases are successful, the drug company submits a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for review and potential approval, initiating a regulatory process.

So, where is KX-826 in this process?

What We Know About Pyrilutamide’s Research Status

According to a 2024 paper in the journal Forum Dermatologicum, pyrilutamide has completed phase II clinical trials among male patients ages 18 to 70 years old with male pattern hair loss in China, where it was found to be effective with a good safety profile. The researchers say it triggered significant improvements in target area hair counts (TAHC) after 24 weeks of treatment.

It has also completed phase II clinical trials for women in China and men in the United States, which have linked it to significant improvements in hair growth, especially with a 0.5% twice-daily dosage.

Interestingly, in addition to baldness, the drug is being studied as a potential treatment for acne vulgaris.

In a 2023 press release, Kintor Pharma said it had completed subject enrollment and was preparing for a phase III clinical trial in the US, which will include 740 men with male androgenetic alopecia and last for 24 weeks with an additional four-week safety component.

The primary endpoint is to determine the change in TAHC from baseline after consistent use of twice-daily KX-826, compared to a placebo group (aka people who don’t use any medication).

At the same time, they had a long-term safety trial in the works across 16 clinical research centers in China to further assess the long-term use of KX-826, involving 270 participants over a 52-week period.

As of early 2025, we have this update from Kintor: The long-term safety phase III clinical trial is now complete, and according to the company, pyrilutamide showed excellent safety and efficacy for the treatment of AGA.

They reported low incidence of overall adverse effects and no drug-related sexual dysfunction.

As for results, after 52 weeks of treatment, 53 percent of men and 48 percent of women saw their hair improve after applying a 0.5% tincture twice daily.

Clinical trials for drugs take a while, but they’re super important before we start using them. These trials aim to solidify a drug’s safety, tolerability, and efficacy profile.

If all continues to go well, pyrilutamide may take its place among the approved treatments for androgenic alopecia.

Every drug comes with the potential for unwanted interactions or adverse events, and this includes pyrilutamide.

So far, pyrilutamide’s side effects appear to be mild, like redness, irritation, and itchy, dry skin. This kind of contact dermatitis is a common side effect of many topical treatments. However, the research is ongoing, so we don’t yet know for sure if these are the only potential side effects of the drug.

For comparison’s sake, here’s what we know about the possible side effects of other topical hair loss medications, like finasteride and minoxidil:

• Topical minoxidil, which comes as a foam or liquid solution, may cause skin irritation at the application site, rash, scalp itchiness, or a slight burning sensation. Less commonly, some guys experience allergic reactions, temporary hair shedding, unwanted hair growth, headaches, and bumps or acne breakouts on their faces.

• Topical finasteride isn’t FDA-approved for male hair loss (only oral finasteride is), but it’s sometimes prescribed off-label—such as in our minoxidil + finasteride spray. This form can have side effects like scalp itchiness, dryness, redness, contact dermatitis, or a burning sensation at the application site. Much more rarely, it may also have more systemic and sexual side effects, such as decreased libido and erectile dysfunction.

Note that side effects from these drugs may not always be related to the active ingredient itself but to the solution used to deliver it. For instance, some people may react to propylene glycol (alcohol) in liquid minoxidil, and this could be the case with pyrilutamide, too, depending on how the drug is formulated.

If you’re using more of any medication than directed, this can lead to more serious side effects, in which case it’s important to seek medical attention. Always use your prescriptions exactly as directed, even if a topical treatment seems less risky than something you ingest.

Your next question is probably how pyrilutamide stacks up against some of the already FDA-approved hair loss medications. Let’s take a look at how it compares to topical minoxidil and oral finasteride for male pattern baldness.

Pyrilutamide vs. Oral Finasteride (Propecia^®)

Finasteride is considered the gold standard for blocking DHT, but its potential side effects make it a deal-breaker for some men.

Pyrilutamide aims to neutralize DHT without affecting the body’s testosterone levels, potentially offering a safer alternative—but we won’t know for sure until long-term studies are completed.

Pyrilutamide vs. Topical Minoxidil (Rogaine^®)

Minoxidil is not a DHT blocker—it simply stimulates hair growth. This means that while it helps with hair regrowth, it doesn’t stop the underlying process of hair loss.

Pyrilutamide, in theory, would address both hair retention and regrowth, making it a more comprehensive treatment.

Could pyrilutamide be paired with minoxidil or finasteride for a more comprehensive approach to hair loss treatment? It’s possible, but we don’t have enough data from clinical trials to know if this approach would be safe or effective.

Pyrilutamide (KX-826) is shaping up to be a potential breakthrough in hair loss treatment, offering a topical solution that blocks DHT at the scalp without the systemic side effects of oral medications like finasteride.

The clinical trials are promising, showing increased hair density and reduced shedding, but the drug is not yet FDA-approved and still requires further research.

If pyrilutamide passes all regulatory hurdles, it could become a go-to option for those seeking a DHT-blocking treatment without hormonal disruptions. Until then, current FDA-approved treatments remain the best option for managing hair loss.

TDLR; here are the key takeaways on this promising future hair loss treatment:

• Pyrilutamide as a hair loss treatment isn’t yet available for general use—it’s still in clinical trials, and we’re not sure when there will be another update.

• It works by blocking DHT directly at the scalp, potentially reducing hair loss with fewer systemic side effects compared to some other hair loss medications.

• If approved, it could offer a new alternative to finasteride and minoxidil, possibly even working alongside them for enhanced results.

For now, keep an eye on the latest research, consult a dermatologist before trying any experimental treatments, and stick to proven hair loss solutions—like our topical minoxidil or minoxidil and finasteride spray—until pyrilutamide gets the green light.

Have more questions? Check out our men’s hair resources. To be connected with a licensed healthcare provider and explore hair loss treatment options, start by taking our free online hair assessment.