Cutia Therapeutics: CU-40101 New Drug For Hair Loss 2022

Posted on Aug 25, 2022.

A new drug aimed at treating androgenetic alopecia is entering a phase 1 clinical trial imminently as of August 2022.

CU-40101 Phase 1 Clinical Trial

Cutia Therapeutics is the latest biotechnology company to emerge from behind the scenes and enter the global race for new androgenetic alopecia therapies. Its candidate molecule CU-40101 is slated to begin a phase 1 trial at the Zhejiang University Hospital sometime around August 2022, according to its clinical trial listing. The phase 1 trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of CU-40101, as most phase 1 trials do. Trial participants will include males age 18-55 years old who are graded levels 3 – 7 on the Norwood scale. The mechanism of action of this drug is currently unknown, as Cutia Therapeutics currently does not have a website up. CU-40101 is described as a “liniment” on the trial listing, which may sound odd to those who are familiar with horse liniment, however, upon further review the technical definition of a liniment is simply a “liquid or lotion.” We can then understand that CU-40101 is simply a topical drug solution.

There is limited information known about Cutia Therapeutics at this time. A document on the internet describes Cutia as “an R&D based start-up company mainly focusing on dermatology and aesthetics” with headquarters in Shanghai, China. It is also implied that Cutia is a subsidiary of the colossal WuXi Apptec pharmaceutical company of China. Besides CU-40101, the company is also conducting a phase 3 trial for a spray-version finasteride in China. Beginning at a phase 1 trial for safety would indicate that CU-40101 is a new chemical entity.

China Leading The Way On AGA

When we take a closer look at the androgenetic alopecia therapeutics field, there is a clear geographic frontrunner when it comes to applied innovation and drug development – China. Some of the most clinically advanced and compelling therapies are currently being developed by Chinese companies. Today, we’ve announced the newcomer Cutia Therapeutics, we also know the potential powerhouse Kintor Pharmaceutical which has two drugs and multiple lines of clinical trials in development for both male and female pattern hair loss. Then there is the quiet, but formidable, contender Technoderma Medicines which has already progressed its drug into a phase 1b trial in the US. Finally, we have the highly acclaimed (mostly due to previous data from a monkey study) Hope Medicine, who should be kicking off important clinical trials globally any day now.

What will come from all these drug candidates still remains to be seen, but I believe it’s clear that the initiative which Chinese biotech has taken by getting these drugs into clinical trials is both admirable and necessary for progress. It appears that China understands the importance of working to solve an unmet medical need which can majorly impact quality of life; the USA may want to emulate that strategy.

Source: Follicle Thought.