Investors Bet on a Hair Loss Treatment Boom

Bloomberg's Avalon Pernell discusses a new generation of hair-loss drug developers attracting investor interest as treatments could reach the market around 2027. She highlights Cosmo's topical lotion, Veradermics' oral pill and Abzai's long-acting injection. The opportunity is supported by a large, underserved US market and sticky cash-pay demand. Key near-term catalysts include potential approvals and applications as soon as next year. - New generation hair-loss treatments include lotions, pills and long-acting injections. - Pattern hair loss affects an estimated 50 million men and 30 million women in the US. - No new approved treatments have emerged since the late 1990s. - Cosmo's lotion could reach the market as soon as early next year if approved. - Veradermics is developing an oral pill that could be the first FDA-approved female hair-loss pill. - Abzai is developing a six-month injectable viewed as the most differentiated product. - Demand is considered cash-pay, vanity-driven and sticky even in an economic downturn.