Overview Of Alopecia Areata For Managed Care And Payer Stakeholders In The United States

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease causing hair loss in genetically susceptible individuals, significantly impacting their quality of life and posing an economic burden due to costs associated with treatments and cosmetic options. Current treatments include corticosteroids, systemic immunosuppressants, and topical immunotherapy, but these have limited effectiveness, with 78% of over 1,000 surveyed patients expressing dissatisfaction. However, new therapies like Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, including baricitinib, deuruxolitinib, and ritlecitinib, are showing promise. Baricitinib has been approved by the FDA, with 39% and 23% of patients showing a response to 4 mg and 2 mg doses respectively. Despite these advancements, high relapse rates when treatment is discontinued indicate the need for ongoing therapy. AA is also associated with various comorbidities, including mental health conditions, and significantly impairs health-related quality of life.