Veradermics (MANE) Leerink Global Healthcare Conference 2026 summary

Origin and development

• Focused on hair loss, a prevalent and psychologically impactful condition affecting 80 million people in the U.S.

• Concept for an extended-release oral minoxidil tablet originated 4-5 years ago, aiming to optimize hair growth and minimize cardiac risks.

• Developed through trial and error, resulting in a novel formulation now in phase III trials.

Clinical data and differentiation

• Phase II data in men showed fast, consistent, and intense hair growth with strong tolerability and convenience.

• Co-primary endpoints: target area hair count and patient-reported outcomes, both used in phase III.

• Extended-release formulation delivers sustained minoxidil exposure, doubling drug exposure time while reducing cardiac risk compared to immediate release.

• Maintains drug levels above hair growth threshold and below cardiac risk threshold, enhancing bioactivation at the follicle.

Ongoing and future studies

• Phase II and III studies ongoing in both men and women, with endpoints and populations closely matched to ensure data translation.

• Each phase III study enrolls about 500 subjects with a six-month primary endpoint.

• Commercial viability assessed through surveys of patients and healthcare providers, showing high willingness to adopt.