A Cure for Baldness May Be Right Around the Corner In the journal PLOS Biology, researchers revealed on Tuesday that two drugs used to treat autoimmune diseases also promoted hair growth. Researchers from the University of Manchester's Centre for Dermatology Research analyzed cyclosporine A and WAY-316606. Cyclosporine A was found to include a side effect that reduced the impact of a protein that inhibits hair growth — and in turn caused hair to grow. WAY-316606, which treats osteoporosis, was found to be less toxic than Cyclosporine A and did a better job of promoting hair growth when applied to hair follicles. Now, researchers must conduct clinical trials to determine if topical use of WAY-316606 is safe and effective for humans.