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 JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor baricitinib for treating alopecia areata (AA) marks a significant advancement, offering meaningful long-term hair regrowth for patients. This approval has heightened awareness of AA as an autoimmune condition, necessitating treatment based on its pathogenesis rather than dismissing it as stress-induced. The development of validated scales like the SALT score for assessing AA severity has improved clinical trials and treatment monitoring. Long-term studies, such as the BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2 trials, show that baricitinib maintains hair regrowth in about 90% of patients over 104 weeks, with continued improvement in quality of life. These findings underscore the need for prolonged therapy to achieve and maintain hair regrowth, especially in severe cases, and suggest that partial responders may require extended treatment to see significant results. Side effects do not increase over time, supporting the safety of long-term use.
