What Is It and How Does It Work?
VDPHL01 is a special “extended-release” version of a well-known hair growth medicine called minoxidil. While minoxidil has been around for years as a liquid or a standard pill, the old pills had a major flaw: they entered the bloodstream all at once, creating a “spike” that could cause heart palpitations or dizziness, and then left the body too quickly to finish their work.
This new treatment works through Oral Extended-Release Delivery. The pill is built with a “gel matrix”—a smart internal structure that releases the medicine in a slow, steady stream over many hours. This keeps the medicine at the perfect “growth level” for your hair follicles all day long, while avoiding the dangerous spikes that cause side effects.
The Science and the Results
Researchers just shared the “topline” results from a large study of 519 men with pattern hair loss. They compared men taking the new slow-release pill to a group taking a fake pill (placebo).
The clear results from the study:
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Massive New Growth: Men taking the pill once a day grew an average of 30.3 new hairs in every square centimeter of their scalp. Those taking it twice a day grew 33.0 new hairs.
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Rapid Action: Significant hair growth was seen at just two months, making it one of the fastest-acting hair pills ever tested.
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Heart Safety: Because the medicine is released slowly, there were no treatment-related serious heart issues reported.
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High Satisfaction: About 86% of the men in the study reported that their hair looked better or “much improved” after six months.
“Our proprietary, extended-release formulation delivered marked increases in hair growth… while minimizing side effects and cardiac risk,” explained Dr. Reid Waldman, the CEO of Veradermics. Experts noted that this “huge proof point” shows that oral treatments can be both powerful and safe if the delivery method is right.
When Can You Get It?
VDPHL01 has successfully finished this major phase of testing. The company is now completing a final study in men and a separate study for women, with more results expected later in 2026. If these remain successful, it is expected to be available for doctors to prescribe by 2027 or 2028.
How you can benefit from this treatment now
This breakthrough proves that for hair growth medicine to work, it must stay at a steady level in your system. While you wait for this specific “gel matrix” pill to be approved, you can talk to your doctor about low-dose oral minoxidil, which many dermatologists already prescribe “off-label” to achieve similar results. This latest research gives doctors a clear roadmap on how to use oral treatments safely and effectively to save your hair while the next generation of “slow-release” technology prepares for the market.