For almost 30 years, men with pattern hair loss have had the same short list of medical options: finasteride tablets and minoxidil solution or foam. In October 2026, that list moved a step closer to changing. An extended-release minoxidil tablet, designed specifically for hair rather than borrowed from blood-pressure medicine, reported its second positive Phase 3 trial. Here is what the results show, what they do not, and how a pill like this might sit alongside finasteride in a doctor-guided plan.

Why a Minoxidil Pill Matters

Minoxidil is one of the best-studied hair loss treatments. Applied to the scalp, it helps keep follicles in their growth (anagen) phase for longer and supports blood flow around the follicle. We looked at it in detail in Minoxidil: A Deep Dive into Its Efficacy and Alternatives.

The catch is that topical minoxidil only works if you keep using it, and many people stop. Daily application is messy, it can irritate the scalp, and in Singapore's heat and humidity it can leave hair feeling greasy. Some people also respond poorly to the topical form.

• Low-dose oral minoxidil today: dermatologists already prescribe small doses of ordinary minoxidil tablets off-label. Those tablets were made to lower blood pressure, not to treat hair.
• What is new: VDPHL01 is an extended-release tablet developed specifically for pattern hair loss, designed to release minoxidil steadily through the day.

What the Phase 3 Trials Found

The developer, Veradermics, has now reported two large trials in men with mild-to-moderate pattern hair loss. Both were randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled.

• Study 302 (reported April 2026): 519 men over 6 months. Men taking the tablet once daily gained about 30 hairs per cm² in the measured scalp area, compared with about 7 on placebo. Around 79% rated their hair coverage as improved, versus 36% on placebo.
• Study 304 (reported 19 October 2026): more than 500 men. Hair counts rose by 28.6 hairs per cm² with once-daily dosing and 36.4 with twice-daily dosing, versus 6.6 on placebo. The difference was measurable from around month 2.
• Safety so far: the company describes the tablet as generally well tolerated, and analysts noted no cardiac adverse events across roughly 700 men in the two trials.

What We Still Don't Know

• Not yet peer-reviewed: these are company-reported topline results. Full data, including rates of unwanted body hair, have not been published in a journal.
• Not approved: the tablet is not approved by the US FDA, Singapore's HSA or any other regulator, and no filing date has been announced.
• Men only: both trials enrolled men. Results cannot be assumed for women.
• No head-to-head data: it has not been compared directly with finasteride, topical minoxidil or off-label low-dose tablets.
• Not tested with finasteride: neither trial studied the pill in combination with finasteride.

Minoxidil and Finasteride: Two Different Pathways

A new pill is unlikely to replace finasteride, because the two drugs do different jobs.

• Finasteride blocks DHT: it inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, lowering dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that gradually shrinks genetically sensitive follicles. See Understanding Finasteride: A Guide to Oral Consumption for Hair Loss.
• Minoxidil supports growth: it does not touch hormones. It helps follicles stay in the growth phase for longer and supports the follicle's environment.

Because they work on separate pathways, doctors often combine them, and the evidence supports this.

• Network meta-analysis (2025): an analysis of 18 randomised trials (729 patients) ranked finasteride plus minoxidil as the top combination for men, with about 30 more hairs per cm² than minoxidil alone. These trials used topical combinations, and the evidence was rated moderate quality.
• Oral minoxidil plus oral finasteride: a UK review of 502 men treated with both tablets for 12 months found that 92% had stable or improved hair density. This was a retrospective review without a control group, so it shows association rather than proof. 

If a purpose-built minoxidil pill is approved, the most likely role is as one part of a two-pathway plan, not a single answer. Whether that combination is right for you is a decision for your doctor.

Safety: Why Doctor Supervision Matters

• Minoxidil is a blood-pressure drug: oral minoxidil can cause fluid retention, a faster heartbeat, dizziness and unwanted hair growth on the face or body. People with heart conditions or low blood pressure need careful assessment.
• Finasteride has its own considerations: sexual side effects and mood changes have been reported. Tell your doctor about any history of depression.
• Never self-medicate: do not split blood-pressure tablets or buy hair loss pills online. Dose, purity and monitoring matter.

What You Can Do Now

• See a doctor early: pattern hair loss is progressive, and follicles respond better before they have shrunk for years. A GP or dermatologist can confirm the diagnosis and check for other causes such as low iron or thyroid problems.
• Ask about two pathways: discuss whether a plan that combines DHT-lowering treatment (finasteride) with growth support (minoxidil) suits you.
• Give it time: judge any treatment after about 6 months, and take monthly photos in the same light. Early shedding in the first weeks of minoxidil is common and usually temporary. Our article on why hair loss treatments sometimes seem to plateau explains what to expect over the longer term.
• Consider drug-free add-ons: low-level laser therapy works on the follicle's energy supply rather than hormones. In a 2024 randomised trial, women using 2% minoxidil plus a 655 nm laser helmet had a significantly greater increase in hair thickness than those using minoxidil alone.

Tip: FDA-cleared at-home helmets such as Theradome can be discussed with your doctor as a drug-free add-on to a medical plan. Read how they compare with clinic sessions in Do You Really Need a Clinic Visit for Laser Hair Growth, or Will a Helmet Do.

Key Takeaway

A minoxidil pill made specifically for hair loss has now passed two Phase 3 trials, with clear gains over placebo at 6 months. It is not approved yet, and it is not a replacement for finasteride: the two act on different pathways, which is why doctors often combine them. If you are noticing thinning, the best step today is an early, doctor-guided plan, given the time hair needs.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Speak to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining any hair loss medication.

References

• Veradermics' hot streak continues with another phase 3 win in hair loss. Fierce Pharma, 20 October 2026. Link
• Investigational oral hair loss pill: Phase 2/3 study results. Patient Care, 29 April 2026. Link
• Veradermics oral minoxidil study results. BioPharma Dive, 27 April 2026. Link
• Xia Y, Chen H, Chen Y, Chen Z. Relative efficacy of minoxidil in combination with other treatments for androgenic alopecia: a network meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Medicine. 2025;12:1638496. Link
• Johnson H, et al. Effectiveness of Combined Oral Minoxidil and Finasteride in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Service Evaluation. Cureus. PMC11829753
• Yang X, Qiao R, Cheng W, et al. Comparative efficacy of 2% minoxidil alone against combination of 2% minoxidil and low-level laser therapy in female pattern hair loss: a randomized controlled trial in Chinese females. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. 2024;45:103966.

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