Severe hair loss from the autoimmune condition, alopecia areata, could be reversible in some patients if they take a daily oral drug for several months.
A recent randomized, double-blind clinical trial on the medication has shown such promising results, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved its use for patients 12 years and older.
Alopecia is marked by hair loss on the scalp, face, or body.
It occurs when the immune system begins attacking a person’s own hair follicles, and while most patients are otherwise healthy, patchy or complete losses of hair can have serious mental and emotional impacts.
Some patients with severe forms of the disease lose all of their scalp hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, and all the rest of their body hair as well, a condition known as alopecia universalis.
Such severe cases tend to be especially resistant to available treatments, but a new drug called ritlecitinib could help change that.
In stage two and three clinical trials, the oral medicine reversed up to 80 percent of hair loss on the scalp for close to a quarter of all patients, and so far appears to be one of the only treatments for severe alopecia that is both effective and well-tolerated by a significant number of people.
Its approval also makes it the only treatment available for children.
In stage two and three clinical trials, the oral medicine reversed up to 80 percent of hair loss on the scalp for close to a quarter of all patients, and so far appears to be one of the only treatments for severe alopecia that is both effective and well-tolerated by a significant number of people. Its approval also makes it the only treatment available for children.
Another oral drug for alopecia, called baricitinib, was approved by the FDA in 2022 to exclusively treat adults. It works about 20 percent of the time at the recommended dosage.
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