THE VANGUARD BLOG
Physician-curated deep dives into the science of men's health optimization.
Monograph
Romosozumab (brand name Evenity, Amgen/UCB) is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting sclerostin, a protein secreted by osteocytes that inhibits the Wnt signaling pathway in osteoblasts. By neutralizing sclerostin, romosozumab simultaneously…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Apomorphine is a non-selective dopamine receptor agonist with a long history in medicine — originally used as an emetic in poisoning treatment, more recently in Parkinson's disease management (subcutaneous Apokyn, sublingual Kynmobi). For erectile…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Setmelanotide (brand name Imcivree, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals) is a melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist administered as a daily subcutaneous injection. It is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in patients aged 6 years and older with obesity…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Mandelic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from bitter almonds. It is structurally similar to glycolic acid and lactic acid but with a substantially larger molecular structure (152.15 g/mol vs glycolic at 76 g/mol). The larger molecule…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is an endogenous molecule produced by neutrophils as part of the innate immune system's pathogen defense. It is a potent oxidizing agent that kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses through oxidation of microbial proteins, while…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid, PLLA) is an injectable biostimulator developed by Sanofi-Aventis (now Galderma). Unlike hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, which physically occupy volume at injection sites, Sculptra works by triggering a controlled…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal medication. As a topical shampoo (typically 2% ketoconazole in the United States as Nizoral, 1% as Nizoral A-D OTC, with various international generics), it is FDA-approved for treatment of seborrheic…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Setipiprant is a small-molecule antagonist of the prostaglandin D2 receptor 2 (DP2, also called CRTH2). It was originally developed as a potential treatment for asthma and allergic disorders due to PGD2's role in inflammatory responses. In 2012, a…
30 May 2026
Monograph
As of mid-2026, Kintor reports that the pivotal Phase III stage in China met its primary endpoint with statistically significant and clinically meaningful efficacy in male AGA; a 52-week long-term safety Phase III also met endpoint. US Phase II positive. NDA planned in China.
30 May 2026
Monograph
RU58841 (also called PSK-3841) is a non-steroidal topical antiandrogen developed by Roussel Uclaf (later Sanofi) in the late 1980s and 1990s as a topical treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA, male and female pattern hair loss). It is a pure…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Bimagrumab (BYM338) is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds and blocks the activin receptor type II (ActRII), preventing signaling from myostatin, activin A, and other ActRII ligands that negatively regulate skeletal muscle mass. By blocking…
30 May 2026
Monograph
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. Oral GABA supplements have been marketed for decades for stress, anxiety, sleep, and general relaxation. The classical neuroscience…
30 May 2026
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