A New Era for Alopecia Areata: New Treatments and Improved Knowledge of the Condition
TLDR Baricitinib effectively promotes long-term hair regrowth in alopecia areata patients.
The approval of the oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor baricitinib for treating alopecia areata (AA) marks a significant advancement, offering meaningful long-term hair regrowth for patients. This development has heightened awareness of AA as an autoimmune condition, necessitating treatment based on its pathogenesis rather than dismissing it as stress-induced. Clinical trials, such as BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2, are ongoing, providing valuable data on the efficacy and safety of baricitinib over extended periods. Results indicate that while hair regrowth can take months, long-term treatment is essential for maintaining and improving outcomes, with a significant portion of patients showing continued improvement over 104 weeks. The findings underscore the need for prolonged therapy in severe AA cases and suggest that other JAK inhibitors and new drugs may follow similar patterns.