News & media coverage

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Stories appear in reverse chronological order.

2023

Ghorayshi, Azeen. “After Antidepressants, a Loss of Sexuality.” New York Times. November 9, 2023. [Mentions post-finasteride sexual dysfunction]

Ennals, Ethan. “Top Doctor Says He’d Never Treat Patients with Hair-Loss Pill Due to Side Effects That Affect Some ‘Permanently’.” Daily Mail, October 21, 2023.

Roach, Keith via syndicated column “To Your Good Health.” “Finasteride use causes rare effects of impotence and others.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2023.

Evans, Owen. “IN-DEPTH: The Hair Loss Drug Leaving Victims With A Debilitating Condition.” The Epoch Times, August 1, 2023.

Rothman, Julia and Shaina Feinberg. “The Last Strand: Let’s Talk About Hair Loss.” New York Times. March 31, 2023.

Ennals, Ethan. “Watchdog Launches Investigation into Hair Loss Pill as Men Report Huge Rise in Side Effects Including Depression, Low Libido and Erectile Dysfunction.” Daily Mail, March 4, 2023.

Ennals, Ethan, and Eve Simmons. “Just How Safe Is the Hair-Loss Drug Taken by Millions of Men?” Produced by Medical Minefield via The Mail+. March 4, 2023. Podcast, 32:51.

Pandya, Hershal. Kill the Propecia Joke. Vulture, February 15, 2023. Archived at Wayback Machine.

2022

NDR Ratgeber. “Finasterid: Impotenz und Depression durch Haarwuchsmittel? | Dürfen Die Das? [Finasteride: Impotence and Depression from a Hair Growth Treatment? Is That Acceptable?]” PFS Foundation, October 25, 2022. YouTube video, 17:07.

Linder, Ronny. “Israeli Victims of Propecia Speak Out: ‘I Woke Up into a Nightmare’.” Haaretz, September 18, 2022.

Roy, Soline. “Comment des garçons nés filles ont inspiré un produit anti-calvitie [How Boys Born as Girls Inspired an Anti-Hair Loss Product].” Le Figaro, September 4, 2022.

Kaplan, Michael. “Propecia Users Claim Drug Causes Memory Loss, ED, Suicidal Thoughts.” New York Post, August 10, 2022.

Linder, Ronny. “הם רצו לעצור את ההתקרחות. זה הרס להם את החיים [They Wanted to Stop Baldness. It Ruined Their Lives].” The Marker, August 5, 2022.

Levine, Dan. “FDA Requires Disclosure of Suicide Risk for Anti-Baldness Drug.” Reuters, June 10, 2022.

2021

Hofer, Gustaf. “Plötzlich kahl [Suddenly Bald].” NZZ Format, December 2, 2021. YouTube video, 28:54.

Pierson, Brendan. “Group Sues to Have Hair-Loss Drug Propecia Pulled from Market.” Reuters, September 8, 2021.

WDR TV. “Die Tricks der Schönheitsindustrie [Tricks of the Beauty Industry].” PFS Foundation, June 30, 2021. YouTube video, 10:39.

Ennals, Ethan. “Hair Loss Pills Taken by Millions Can Leave Men Depressed, Bloated and Impotent: The Big Problem Behind the Slick, Clever and Hard to Resist Adverts.” Daily Mail, February 27, 2021.

Levine, Dan, and Chad Terhune. “Merck Anti-Baldness Drug Propecia Has Long Trail of Suicide Reports, Records Show.” Reuters, February 3, 2021.

Kekatos, Mary, and Reuters. “Merck KNEW Its Anti-Baldness Drug Propecia Was Linked to Depression and Reports of Suicide but Decided Not to Update the Medication’s Warning Label, Documents Show.” Daily Mail, February 3, 2021.

NDR TV. “The Side Effects of Finasteride Are Underestimated.” PFS Foundation, January 26, 2021. YouTube video, 6:35.

Levine, Dan. “Judge Orders Merck Documents on Anti-Baldness Drug Propecia Unsealed.” Reuters. January 25, 2021.

2020

Brown, Kristen V., and Gerrit De Vynck. “Hims Built a $1.6 Billion Online Empire by Pushing Prescriptions.” Bloomberg Businessweek, October 30, 2020.

Adler, Douglas G. “He Became Depressed and His Sex Drive Disappeared. What Was the Cause?” Discover, October 5, 2020.

Ala-Kivimäki, Petteri. “Unohtakaa hiukset [Forget the Hair].” Helsingin Sangomat, October 1, 2020.

Gallagher, Jacob. “Losing Your Hair? Why This Solution Is No Longer Shameful.” Wall Street Journal. February 21, 2020.

2019

Rapkin, Mickey. “The Truth about Hair Loss Drugs.” Men’s Journal, October 30, 2019.

Maldonado, Eve. “How Balding Became Big Business.” Wall Street Journal, September 20, 2019. Video, 6:26.

Levine, Dan. “Reuters Asks Judge to Release Secret Propecia Documents.” Reuters, September 12, 2019.

Levine, Dan. “Court Let Merck Hide Secrets About a Popular Drug’s Risks.” Reuters Investigates, September 11, 2019.

Gallagher, James. “Fertility Paradox in Male Beauty Quest.” BBC News, May 28, 2019.

Brown, Kirsten V., Gerrit De Vynck, and Robert Langreth. “Men Are Paying Sixfold Markups to Feel Cool about Buying Generic Viagra.” Bloomberg Businessweek, May 22, 2019.

de Zwaan, Irene. “Dit is een Fantastisch Middel Tegen Kaalheid (Maar je Verliest er Misschien Wel je Mannelijkheid Door) [This is a Great Cure for Baldness (but You May Lose Your Manhood Because of It)].” de Volkskrant, February 15, 2019. Translated by PFS Foundation.

66 Minutes. “Is This Hair-Loss Drug Dangerous?” PFS Foundation, February 3, 2019. YouTube video, 13:53.

Santi, Pascale. “Contre la chute des cheveux, gare au finastéride [For Hair Loss, Avoid Finasteride].” Le Monde, January 23, 2019. Translated by PFS Foundation.

2018

Echchihab, Camélia, and Emre Sari. “Le finastéride, ce médicament controversé que les autorités sanitaires continuent de défendre [Finasteride, the Controversial Drug That Health Authorities Continue to Defend].” L’Obs, July 18, 2018.

2017

Echchihab, Camélia, and Emre Sari. “Le Propecia, ce médicament anti-chute de cheveux accusé de ruiner des vies [Propecia, the Anti-hair Loss Drug Accused of Ruining Lives]”. L’Obs, November 13, 2017. Translated by PFS Foundation.

Mari, Elsa. “Propecia: alerte sur le médicament miracle anticalvitie [Propecia: Alert on the Anti-Baldness Miracle Drug].” Le Parisien, November 8, 2017.

Mari, Elsa. “Effets secondaires du Propecia: Marc, 45 ans, envisage de porter plainte [Side Effects of Propecia: Marc, 45, Plans to Bring a Complaint].” Le Parisien, November 8, 2017.

20 Heures. “France 2 News Magazine 20 Heures on ANSM’s Warning.” PFS Foundation, Oct 26, 2017. YouTube video, 2:13.

Topol, Sarah A. “Sons and Daughters: The Village Where Girls Turn into Boys.” Harper’s, August 2017.

Fox, Maggie. “Hair Loss Drug Propecia Carries Risk of Losing Something Else.” NBC News, March 10, 2017.

Horovitz, Bruce. “President Trump and I Take the Same Drugs — Except Propecia.” Chicago Tribune, March 7, 2017.

Grady, Denise. “Trump Takes the Hair-Growth Drug Propecia. How Does It Work?” New York Times, February 3, 2017.

2016

France 5, Santé. “Report on the Suicide of PFS Patient Romain Mathieu.” PFS Foundation, November 24, 2016. YouTube video, 5:16.

Marshall, Lisa. “The Medical Mystery behind America’s Best-Selling Hair-Loss Drug.” VICE, November 21, 2016.

Dye, Jessica. “MDL Judge Sends Propecia Case Back to State Court.” Reuters, June 23, 2016.

Koppen, VRT-TV. “The Wonderhair Pill.” PFS Foundation, May 26, 2016. YouTube video, 20:36.

TV3. “Pastilla Busca Malatia [Pills in Search of an Illness].” PFS Foundation, April 9, 2016. YouTube video, 14:04.

2015

Mosley, Michael. “The Extraordinary Case of the Guevedoces.” BBC News, September 20, 2015.

Goussinsky, Eugenio. “Jovem toma remédio para calvície e vive drama: ‘Meu órgão sexual ficou menor de quando eu era criança’ [Young Man Takes Medicine for Baldness and Lives Drama: ‘My Sexual Organ Got Smaller Than When I Was A Child’].” R7, July 29, 2015.

Hipolit, Melissa, and Eli Gardiner. “WATCH: How One Man Said Hair Loss Drug Ruined His Life”. WTVR CBS 6, May 1, 2015. YouTube video, 4:12.

2014

Payne, Emily. “‘Hair Loss Pills Made My Penis Shrink’: Man Ends Up in Psychiatric Unit after Becoming Severely Depressed about the Side-Effects.” Daily Mail, June 24, 2014.

2013

Goldberg, Kenny. “Sexual Problems Sometimes Irreversible Side Effect of Hair Loss Drug Propecia.” KPBS Public Media, May 18, 2013. YouTube video, 5:26.

Goldberg, Kenny. “Men Say Hair Loss Drug Causes Sexual Problems and Depression.” KPBS, May 17, 2013.

Hsieh, Sylvia. “Propecia Litigation Picks Up Momentum.” Wisconsin Law Journal, April 4, 2013.

2012

Drug Topics. “Former Finasteride Users Who Have Sexual Side Effects at Increased Risk for Depressive Symptoms, Suicidal Thoughts.” October 15, 2012.

Silver, Matty. “Hair-Loss Drug a Downer in the Bedroom.” Sydney Morning Herald, September 27, 2012.

Enck, Paul, and Winifried Häuser. “Beware the Nocebo Effect.” New York Times, August 12, 2012.

CNN Weekend Shows. “Man Says Propecia Made Him Impotent.” CNN, August 5, 2012. YouTube video, 5:03.

Edelman, Susan. “Software Engineer Claims Generic Version of Propecia Turned Him Into A Woman.” New York Post, July 22, 2012.

NBC Tonight. “Propecia Hidden Risk? Propecia Linked to Long-Term Sexual Dysfunction.” Propecia Help, July 13, 2012. YouTube video, 2:37.

Abrams, Lindsay. “Calm Down: Propecia Probably Isn’t Causing Your Erectile Dysfunction.” The Atlantic, July 13, 2012.

Sifferlin, Alexandra. “Propecia Problems: Baldness Drug Linked with Long-Lasting Sexual Side Effects.” TIME, July 12, 2012.

NBC Today. “Report Links Hair Loss Drug with Sexual Dysfunction.” propeciahelp channel, July 12, 2012. YouTube video, 4:06.

ABC World News. “Propecia Linked to Sexual Side Effects.” PFS Foundation channel, July 12, 2012. YouTube video, 1:56.

Bichao, Sergio. “Suicide Victim’s Family Blames Merck’s Hair Loss Drug.” NJ Press Media, May 22, 2012.

Sifferlin, Alexandra. “FDA Adds Sexual Side Effects to Propecia and Proscar Labels.” TIME, April 13, 2012.

Jaslow, Ryan. “FDA Adds Sexual Side Effects Warning to Baldness Drug Propecia.” CBS News, April 13, 2012.

Linder, Ronny. “Bald Assertions: Touted ‘Effectiveness’ in Campaign Refers to the Ad, Not the Product.” Haaretz, January 10, 2012.

2011

Thornton, Jim. “The Truth about Propecia” (also on archive.org). Men’s Health, November 18, 2011. Print version: Thornton, Jim. “A Hair-Raising Side Effect,” Men’s Health 26, no. 10 (December 2011): 102–105.

Adams, Robin Williams. “Lawsuit: Man Wanted Hair, Lost Sex Drive.” The Ledger, May 16, 2011.

Adams, Robin Williams. “Man Wanted Hair, but Got the Side Effects, Lawsuit Says.” The Ledger, May 14, 2011.

CBS News Miami. “Mother Blames Son’s Death on Popular Hair Loss Drug.” May 12, 2011.

Baillon, Jeff. “Hair Today, What’s Gone Tomorrow?” FOX 9 Investigators, May 5, 2011. YouTube video, 4:49.

Stahl, Stephanie. “Health Watch: Popular Drug Warning.” CBS News Philadelphia, May 3, 2011.

Edwards, Jim. “Merck Warned Europe That Propecia Causes Sexual Problems – but Not the U.S.” CBS News: Moneywatch. March 22, 2011.

Reinberg, Steven. “Sexual Side Effects from Propecia, Avodart May Be Irreversible.” Health Day, March 11, 2011.

Buck, Rinker. “Lawsuit Blames Hair Loss Drug for Sexual Dysfunction and Mental Problems.” Hartford Courant, March 3, 2011.

Edwards, Jim. “Why Merck’s Hair Loss Drug Could Make Its Income Statement Go, Um, Limp.” CBS News: Moneywatch, January 13, 2011.

Mundie, Simon. “Propecia Risks Long-Term Impotence – BBC Radio 1.” Propecia Truth, January 5, 2011. YouTube video, 2:34.

2010

Mundie, Simon. “Baldness Drug Propecia ‘Risking Men’s Sexual Health’.” BBC News, December 21, 2010.

Kolata, Gina. “F.D.A. Panel Rejects Expanded Use of Prostate Drug.” New York Times, December 1, 2010.

Consumer Reports. “Consumer Reports Health Poll: 53% of Men Say Baldness Treatments Are Overhyped; Best Remedy May Be Acceptance.” PR Newswire, April 6, 2010.

2009

Propecia Help. “Propecia / Finasteride: Permanent Side Effects Official in EU – Swedish TV Update.” Swedish television broadcast, August, 2009. YouTube video, 1:41.

2008

Schieszer, John. “Propecia, Infertility Link Suspected.” Renal & Urology News, January 1, 2008.

2007

Propecia Help. “Propecia, Proscar, Finasteride — PERMANENT SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS.” Swedish television broadcast (2007), September 5, 2008. YouTube video, 3:53.

2006

Conis, Elena. “The Case of the Ex-Girls.” Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2006.

“Local Wins Push Saatchis to Top Spot.” Media: Asia’s Media & Marketing Newspaper, March 2006, 6. [Summary below]

2004

Silverthorne, Sean. “Side Effects: The Case of Propecia.” Harvard Business School: Working Knowledge, November 22, 2004.

Hurley, Dan. “Weighing the Risks of New Plumage.” New York Times, June 15, 2004.

2003

BBC News. “Do We Need Lifestyle Drugs?” January 3, 2003.

2002

Keller-Henman, Nina. “Hair Loss, Internet Gain.” Chemist & Druggist 257, no. 6356 (August 24, 2002): 25.

BBC News. “UK Launch for Baldness Pill.” March 4, 2002.

Taylor, Alex III, Paola Hjet, and Lisa Munoz. “Limiting Fallout Hair Loss.” Fortune, CNN Money, January 7, 2002.

2001

Mand, Adrienne. “Rogaine’s Loss Is Propecia’s Gain(e).” Advertising Age, July 16, 2001. [Summary below]

BBC News. “Baldness Pill ‘Passing Early Tests’.” June 11, 2001.

2000

Sardar, Ziauddin. “Hair-raising.” New Statesman, June 12, 2000: 46–47.

Goetzl, David. “Propecia Aims $2 Mil Push at Gay Men.” Advertising Age 71, no. 12 (March 20, 2000): 8 [Summary below]

“Bill and Maureen Would Like Their Sex Life Back.” CHOICE (Australia), March, 2000.

O’Neil, John. “VITAL SIGNS: THERAPIES; Expert Advice to Bald Men: Get over It.” New York Times, January 25, 2000.

1999

BBC News. “Baldness ‘Cure’ By-passes NHS.” October 25, 1999.

Goetzl, David. “Merck DTC Pharmacy Circular Ads Break New Ground.” Advertising Age 70, no. 40 (September 27, 1999): 10. [Summary below]

Downey, Mike. “Me, Need Propecia? A Baldfaced Lie.” Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1999.

Pear, Robert. “Drug Companies Getting F.D.A. Reprimands for False or Misleading Advertising.” New York Times, March 28, 1999.

Morrow, David J. “New Profits in Old Bottles; Companies Find Bonus in Drugs That Cure Several Ills.” New York Times, March 19, 1999.

Genaro, E. “Bad Consumer.” Brandweek 40, no. 11 (March 15, 1999): 46.

Dickinson, J. G. “DTC Boosts Propecia Sales.” Medical Marketing & Media 34, no. 1 (1999): 40.

1998

Herman, Robin. “The ‘Lifestyle’ Phenomenon: Pills to Enhance Well-Being.” New York Times, November 18, 1998.

Freudenheim, Milt. “THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Influencing Doctor’s Orders.” New York Times, November 17, 1998.

Morrow, David J. “The Elixirs of Life Style; Drugs Can Spark Sex Lives and Grow Hair, So Why Are Some Sales Listless?” New York Times, November 11, 1998.

Villarosa, Linda. “RX MONEY; Remedies for Hair Loss.” New York Times, October 20, 1998.

Dickinson, J. G. “Merck’s Propecia Ad is ‘Misleading’.” Medical Marketing & Media 33, no. 6 (June 1998): 36. [Summary below]

Hickman, B. “Men Wise Up to Bald Truth.” The Australian, May 21, 1998.

Nuland, Sherwin B. “Ideas & Trends: The Rush to Enhancement; Medicine Isn’t Just for the Sick Anymore.” New York Times, May 10, 1998.

Wilke, Michael. “Merck Kicks Off $60 Mil DTC Push for Rogaine Rival.” Advertising Age 69, no. 16 (April 20, 1998): 4. [Summary below]

Seo, Diane. “Ads Push To Make Balding Men’s Loss Industry’s Gain.” Los Angeles Times, January 29, 1998.

Morrow, David J. “New Baldness Drug Is Older Product at a Premium Price.” New York Times, January 20, 1998.

“Room at the Top? Propecia and Rogaine Fight to Fill It.” Medical Marketing & Media 33, no. 1 (January 1998): 6. [Summary below]

1997

Rampe, David. “Diary: Tossing That Toupee.” New York Times, December 28, 1997.

Barron, James. “Head Games; a Pill Threatens a Growth Industry.” New York Times, December 28, 1997.

Stolberg, Sheryl Gay. “A Pill for Male Pattern Baldness Wins Approval from the F.D.A.”
New York Times, December 23, 1997.

Langreth, Robert. “Merck’s Approval for Baldness Pill Starts Sales Battle with Pharmacia.” Wall Street Journal, December 23, 1997.

Langreth, Robert. “Merck Readies a Media Blitz for Its New Pill. Wall Street Journal, December 19, 1997.

Wilke, M. “Rogaine Extension, New Propecia Heat Up Hair Restorer Market.” Advertising Age 68, no. 48 (December 1, 1997): 18.

“Panel Finds Merck’s Propecia Effective, but Not Approvable.” Medical Marketing & Media 32, no. 12 (December 1997): 26. [Summary below]

Newsweek Staff. “Gone Today, Hair Tomorrow?” Newsweek 130, no. 21 (November 24, 1997): 61.

Langreth, Robert. “Government Panel Discusses Merck’s Drug for Baldness.” Wall Street Journal, November 14, 1997.

Tanouye, Elyse, and Robert Langreth. “Top Firms Must Prepare for Onslaught of Generics.” Wall Street Journal, August 12, 1997.

Langreth, Robert. “How a Prostate Drug Became a New Treatment for Baldness.” Wall Street Journal, March 20, 1997.

1996

Hotline. Adweek Eastern Edition 37, no. 41 (December 7, 1996): 6. [Excerpt below]

Meredith, Robyn. “2 Drug Companies Name Agencies.” New York Times, October 9, 1996.

Tanouye, Elyse. “FDA Says 214 Men Using Drug, Proscar, Develop a Side Effect.” Wall Street Journal, September 12, 1996.

1992

Freudenheim, Milt. “Keeping the Pipeline Filled at Merck.” New York Times, February 16, 1992.

Summaries

Source: EBSCO Business Source Complete database

Local wins…, 2006: …McCann Erickson massive Merck Propecia win kept it in the number two slot…

Mand, 2001: The article reports that hair loss, asthma and arthritis pain medications are the leading pharmaceutical products being advertised on the Internet… Merck and Co.’s Propecia hair-loss treatment is the top advertiser…

Goetzl, 2000: This article focuses on the utilization of specific gay men-targeted creative…by pharmaceutical marketer Merck & Co. Inc. in the U.S. The estimated 2.5 million to 2 million U.S. dollar campaign from Prime Access Inc. in New York City features a print advertisement of two men during a close moment. The advertisements will run nationally in gay men-targeted publications The Advocate, Genre, Hero and Out and in local publications in the 10 markets with the largest gay populations. The campaign includes an online component which will appear on Web sites such as Gay.com…

Goetzl, 1999: This article looks at the direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisement for the anti-hair loss drug Propecia from pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. in the U.S. in October 1999. Sav-Mor Franchising, which operates a chain of 72 drugstores in Michigan, will launch a program on October 4 that will allow marketers to run a DTC print advertisement in the circulars it sends home to potential shoppers and distributes in its stores… The idea is to capitalize people’s trust in their pharmacist.

Dickinson, 1998: Reports that [FDA’s] Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications (DDMAC) has stated that the Merck company’s print advertisement for Propecia, its hair growth pill, is misleading.

Wilke, 1998: Reports that Merck & Co. launched an estimated $50 million to $60 million direct-to-consumer advertising campaign for…Propecia in April 1998. The brand’s competition with Rogaine; Details of advertisements being used in the campaign; Statistics regarding sales of over-the-counter hair loss treatments.

Room at the top…, 1998: Focuses on the promotional campaigns for Pharmacia & Upjohn’s Rogaine and Merck & Co.’s Propecia, both used for the treatment of hair loss. Use of candid testimonials by top-ranked, low-hair-density sport figures in Rogaine’ promotional campaign; Effectiveness of both products in only a portion of men; Use of the product for several months before results appear.

Panel finds Merck’s Propecia.., 1997: Reports that a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expert committee agreed on the effectiveness of Propecia or finesteride in restoring hair growth and preventing further hair loss. Expectation on FDA’s approval of the drug for men, but not for women and children.

Hotline, 1996: Merck & Co. in Whitehouse Station, N.J., awarded its estimated $20 million account for Propecia, a hair restorative product, to Young & Rubicam, New York, sources said.