TLDR JAK inhibitors may become the first approved treatment for alopecia areata if they are proven safe and effective.
JAK inhibitors, such as ruxolitinib, baricitinib, and tofacitinib, were found to promote hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata and in animal models. These inhibitors block T-cell-mediated inflammation and have shown benefits in other inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Despite their popularity for treating moderate-to-severe alopecia areata, concerns about adverse events, particularly infections, and the long-term durability of these treatments remained. Ongoing clinical trials aimed to better understand the safety and efficacy of both topical and systemic JAK inhibitors, with the potential for these treatments to become the first FDA-approved options for alopecia areata if proven effective and safe. Prof. Ramot disclosed receiving lecture fees from Novartis and Lilly.
January 2021 in “Our Dermatology Online” Oral tofacitinib successfully treated total body hair loss in one patient.
3 citations,
August 2020 in “Case Reports in Dermatology” Tofacitinib treatment significantly improved a patient's psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and alopecia universalis.
4 citations,
January 2020 in “PubMed” JAK inhibitors may become the first approved treatment for alopecia areata if they are proven safe and effective.
January 2019 in “프로그램북(구 초록집)” Both tofacitinib and ruxolitinib are effective and tolerable for treating alopecia areata.
66 citations,
December 2018 in “Dermatology” Both ruxolitinib and tofacitinib are effective and safe for treating severe alopecia areata, but relapses are common.
30 citations,
June 2017 in “Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery” Topical ruxolitinib failed to regrow hair in a 66-year-old with alopecia areata.
26 citations,
October 2016 in “Case Reports in Dermatology” A man with severe hair loss saw hair and nail improvement after 10 months on tofacitinib without side effects.
222 citations,
September 2016 in “JCI insight” Tofacitinib is safe and effective for severe alopecia areata, but hair loss may return 2 months after stopping treatment.
24 citations,
June 2016 in “Acta dermato-venereologica” Tofacitinib helped a young woman's severe hair loss and arthritis but not her plaque psoriasis.