Encyclopedia · growth stimulant
Kopexil
Kopexil is a minoxidil look-alike sold in cosmetic serums; a 2025 mouse study found it beat minoxidil, but there is no published human trial.
What it is
Kopexil (diaminopyrimidine oxide) is described as a minoxidil-related compound and sold as a cosmetic, usually around 1 to 5% in serums. The 5% figure matches the mouse solution in the study below (Jalilzadeh 2025).
How it works
The mechanism is uncertain. The mouse paper measured higher levels of growth factors (HGF and VEGF) after kopexil. The claimed collagen-crosslink mechanism comes from the supplier.
What the studies show
- In a 28-day mouse study, 5% kopexil gave higher hair weight, follicle count, anagen percentage and growth than minoxidil or vehicle, with no liver or kidney toxicity signal. Animal data only. Jalilzadeh 2025
- No human trial was found in the medical literature.
How it's used in studies
In mice, a 5% hydro-alcoholic solution was applied daily for 28 days.
Side effects and safety
There are no human data. Mice showed no organ-weight or tissue differences. Pregnancy and breastfeeding data were not found. Because minoxidil-type compounds can in theory be absorbed, caution is sensible.
Bottom line
Weak evidence. Do not assume it works like minoxidil: this is an interesting lab result with no human outcome data. Discuss with a doctor.
Studies 1
Jalilzadeh S et al. Kopexil vs minoxidil: in vivo comparative study on hair growth, hair growth promoting factors and toxicity. Bioimpacts. 2025
Tested: 5% kopexil vs minoxidil vs vehicle
Result: The kopexil group had higher hair weight, follicle count and anagen percentage than the minoxidil group, with no liver or kidney toxicity signal.
Read the study ↗Related
- AminexilAminexil is a minoxidil-like cosmetic sold as an anti-shedding ampoule, with no human trial and a rat study that found it the weakest of the products tested.
- MinoxidilThe most widely used hair-growth treatment, available as a cheap over-the-counter lotion or foam and as a prescription tablet, with a mechanism that is still only partly understood.
- StemoxydineStemoxydine is a cosmetic compound from L'Oréal pitched as mimicking the low-oxygen niche of follicle stem cells, with no peer-reviewed trial.
- NanoxidilNanoxidil is a marketing name for a cosmetic "minoxidil alternative" with no chemical definition and no peer-reviewed study that could be found.