I have covered small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) and its significant hair growth potential a number of times on this blog. In particular, two posts stand out:
- In 2023, Bioneer (South Korea) via its siRNAgen subsidiary released a siRNA based topical hair growth cosmeceutical product called CosmeRNA. It targets the androgen receptor (AR) via self-assembled micelle inhibitory RNA (SAMiRNA) nanoparticle-type siRNA. More details about this product can be read in a Nature magazine study from January 2022.
- In 2025, OliX Pharmaceuticals (South Korea) filed a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial plan for its hair loss treatment candidate OLX104C. This drug uses asymmetric siRNA to inhibit male pattern hair loss gene expression. Scientists from the company published a detailed study about this in 2022 titled: “Efficacy of asymmetric siRNA targeting androgen receptors for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.”
Silencing the Androgen Receptor Gene via siRNAs for Androgenetic Alopecia Therapy
And now in October 2025, we got another new study that finds siRNAs to be of use in treating hair loss. This one is from China and is titled: “Efficient silencing of androgen receptor gene via UTR-targeting siRNAs for androgenetic alopecia therapy”. The “UTR” stands for “untranslated regions”.
The Chinese scientists screened a series of siRNA sequences targeting the non-coding region of the androgen receptor gene. They then identified a lead siRNA candidate (AR-27) that is conserved between Homo sapiens and Mus musculus (the house mouse).
Subsequently, they evaluated the chemically modified and cholesterol-conjugated candidate (AR-27 E-Chol) in both cells and in a DHT-induced AGA mice model. It was found that AR-27 E-Chol stimulated dorsal hair regrowth and significantly downregulated AR gene expression in skin tissues. Their conclusion:
“These findings support the clinical potential of AR-27 E-Chol as an effective therapeutic candidate for AGA.”
Note that AR-27 E-Chol does not bind to the androgen receptor (as is the case with existing anti-androgens). Nor does it alter any hormones, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone of estrogen (as is the case with hair loss drugs finasteride and dutasteride). Instead, it directly silences the androgen receptor gene. And it is given topically rather than orally or via injection. The effect will be localized to the area of the scalp where the gel is applied. And it seems like there will be no side effects or systemic absorption.
I was not planning to write an entire post on this study, till reader “Alvaro” posted the below embedded recent auto-dubbed video. It is a presentation by Dr. Oscar Muñoz Moreno-Arrones from Spain, who has become an important influencer in the hair loss world. For his main job, he is a dermatologist and a hair transplant surgeon based in Madrid per his website. One interesting thing that the doctor mentions is that this topical gel might even stop your beard growth if applied to the face.