OliX's hair loss treatment candidate approved for clinical trial in Australia

South Korea's OliX Pharmaceuticals has received approval from Australia's Human Research Ethics Committees (HREC) to plan a phase 1 clinical trial of OLX72021, a candidate for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.

OLX72021 is a treatment that inhibits the activity of hormones that cause male hair loss, and the effect lasted for more than three weeks in animal tests.

OliX plans to evaluate the safety and tolerability of OLX72021 at a clinical site in Australia for up to 30 healthy men with androgenetic alopecia, a disease in which hair loss begins while gradually thinning the hair from the top of the head.

"Interest in hair loss treatment is very high across the world, so we expect quick patient enlistment and administration," said Lee Dong-ki, CEO of OliX Pharmaceuticals. The clinical trial is scheduled to continue until May next year.

Write to Ji-Hyun Lee at bluesky@hankyung.com