Topical bimatoprost stimulates new hair growth in individuals with male pattern baldness and other forms of alopecia, according to an advance online article in FASEB, the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Bimatoprost, the active ingredient in Allergan’s Latisse and Lumigan, has been shown to enhance the length and thickness of eyelashes; however, the authors contend that this is the first published report to document the agent’s effect on scalp hair re-growth.

“We hope this study will lead to the development of a new therapy for balding, which should improve the quality of life for many people with hair loss,” said lead researcher Valerie A. Randall, Ph.D., professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Bradford in the U.K.

In this study, the researchers conducted multiple trials on both human and rodent hair follicles. Human testing included hair follicles grown in organ culture as well as those harvested directly from the scalp. In rodent testing, the treatment was applied directly to bald patches of mouse skin.

The researchers concluded that topical application of bimatoprost stimulated hair growth in all experiments.

Milton M. Hom, O.D., of Azusa, Calif., is intrigued by these results and welcomes another potential baldness treatment. “Past thinking was bimatoprost only worked on telogen [resting phase] follicles. And, because most scalp follicles are anagen [growth phase], minimal effect would be expected,” he says. “But these new findings offer a different story.”

Meanwhile, Allergan recently completed a Phase II study comparing bimatoprost to minoxidil 5% (Rogaine, McNeil) for male pattern baldness, but has yet to release the findings.

Khidhir KG, Woodward DF, Farjo NP, et al. The prostamide-related glaucoma therapy, bimatoprost, offers a novel approach for treating scalp alopecias. FASEB J. 2012 Oct 26.