Cambridge/Shenzhen – October 02, 2026 -- XtalPi (HKEX: 2228) has moved its proprietary hair loss drug program into IND-enabling studies, with pharmacology, safety, and chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) work underway to support a future Investigational New Drug application.
Candidate matches minoxidil's efficacy at 1/100 the dose
In a DHT-induced mouse model of androgenetic alopecia, XtalPi's lead candidate achieved a hair-growth score comparable to 5% topical minoxidil while using only one-hundredth of the comparator's concentration. The company also reported preclinical signals of reduced local follicular inflammation, prompting further evaluation of low-concentration topical delivery.
Program targets a lactate-autophagy pathway to wake dormant stem cells
The candidate is designed to restore cellular autophagy, the process cells use to recycle damaged components, thereby reactivating quiescent hair follicle stem cells. Cell-based assays showed increased lactate production, supporting the mechanism's link to sustained regrowth.
Current standards of care, topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, carry limitations: minoxidil often causes scalp irritation, while finasteride carries labeled risks of sexual adverse effects. Global Market Insights estimates the androgenetic alopecia treatment market at $3.4 billion in 2026, projected to reach $6.8 billion by 2035.
AI-robotics platform drove molecular optimization
XtalPi combined AI-guided molecular design, physics-based free-energy perturbation calculations, and robotic synthesis and testing to optimize the candidate for potency, selectivity, skin penetration, safety and developability as a topical treatment.
Commercial ingredients precede drug pipeline expansion
The drug program builds on XtalPi's earlier commercialization of two AI-developed scalp-care ingredients, Remeanagen (a small molecule) and AquaKine (a peptide), both carrying INCI names. Groland, a consumer brand incubated by XtalPi, has completed U.S. cosmetic facility registration and product listing for a formulation combining both ingredients; its scalp serum previously ranked No. 1 on Tmall's new-product chart for anti-hair-loss scalp serums.
The hair loss program joins other recent pipeline milestones at XtalPi, including a U.S. IND submission for a gut-restricted treatment for chronic intestinal pain and the nomination of an HIV preclinical candidate, extending the company's AI and robotics infrastructure across multiple therapeutic areas.