Novel Investigational Drugs for Alopecia Areata and Future Perspectives
April 2024
in “Expert opinion on investigational drugs”
TLDR JAK inhibitors are safe and effective for treating moderate-to-severe alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune-mediated disease causing non-scarring hair loss, with chronic cases leading to increased risks of depression and reduced quality of life. Traditional treatments were limited, but two Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors are now approved for chronic AA. Landmark phase 3 trials for baricitinib, ritlecitinib, and deuruxolitinib show JAK inhibitors as safe and effective for moderate-to-severe AA, though discontinuation often leads to relapse. Early intervention improves efficacy, but the optimal duration of treatment remains uncertain. Safety concerns from rheumatoid arthritis data do not align with recent dermatology cohort findings.
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Cited in this study
research Switching Between Tofacitinib and Baricitinib in Alopecia Areata: A Review of Clinical Response
Switching between the medications tofacitinib and baricitinib can be effective for treating hair loss in alopecia areata.
research Expecting Scalp Hair Regrowth During Severe Alopecia Areata Treatment with Baricitinib: Insights from Patient Trajectories in Phase III Trials
Hair regrowth from severe alopecia areata treatment with baricitinib can vary, with faster results in those with shorter hair loss duration.
research Incidence and Prevalence of Alopecia Areata in the Australian Primary Care Setting: A Retrospective Analysis of Electronic Health Record Data
The analysis found that alopecia areata, a hair loss condition, is not very common in Australia, affecting about 0.13% of people, with new cases most often seen in males aged 19 to 34 years.
research Treatment of Alopecia Areata With the Janus Kinase Inhibitor Upadacitinib: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Upadacitinib improved hair regrowth and quality of life in alopecia areata patients with minimal side effects.
research Clinical and Genetic Aspects of Alopecia Areata: A Cutting Edge Review
Hair loss from Alopecia Areata is caused by both genes and environment, with several treatments available but challenges in cost and relapse remain.
research Janus Kinase Inhibitors For Alopecia Areata
JAK inhibitors effectively improve hair regrowth in alopecia areata with an acceptable safety profile.
research Alopecia Areata: Burden of Disease, Approach to Treatment, and Current Unmet Needs
Current treatments for Alopecia Areata have mixed success, and there's a need for better, more accessible options and support for affected individuals.
research Efficacy and Safety of Baricitinib in Patients with Severe Alopecia Areata Over 52 Weeks in Phase III Trials
Baricitinib improved severe hair loss in adults over 52 weeks and was safe to use.
research An Overview of JAK/STAT Pathways and JAK Inhibition in Alopecia Areata
Blocking JAK/STAT pathways can help treat hair loss from alopecia areata.
research Two Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib for Alopecia Areata
Baricitinib was effective in treating alopecia areata in two major trials.
research Ritlecitinib And Brepocitinib Demonstrate Significant Improvement In Scalp Alopecia Areata Biomarkers
Two drugs, ritlecitinib and brepocitinib, improved scalp hair loss condition markers.
research Combination Tofacitinib and Oral Minoxidil Treatment for Severe Alopecia Areata
Tofacitinib and oral minoxidil together effectively regrow hair in severe alopecia areata patients.
research Efficacy of systemic minoxidil and tofacitinib combination in treatment‐resistant alopecia universalis
Using minoxidil and tofacitinib together can effectively treat severe hair loss.
research Sublingual tofacitinib for alopecia areata: a roll‐over pilot clinical trial and analysis of pharmacokinetics
The trial showed that a new under-the-tongue treatment for severe hair loss was somewhat effective in a small group of people.
research Low-Dose IL-2 for Treating Moderate to Severe Alopecia Areata: A 52-Week Multicenter Prospective Placebo-Controlled Study Assessing its Impact on T Regulatory Cell and NK Cell Populations
The study's results on the effectiveness of low-dose IL-2 for alopecia areata and its impact on immune cells were not provided.
research Benefit and risk profile of tofacitinib for the treatment of alopecia areata: a systemic review and meta‐analysis
Tofacitinib is somewhat effective for alopecia areata, but more research is needed on its safety and long-term effects.
research Reactivation of Alopecia Areata After Dupilumab Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis
Dupilumab for skin problems might reactivate hair loss in some patients.
research Alopecia areata in 2 patients treated with dupilumab: New onset and worsening
Dupilumab for atopic dermatitis may cause new or worsen existing alopecia areata.
research JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
JAK inhibitors are effective for treating alopecia areata, with most patients seeing hair growth after treatment.
research Ruxolitinib for the treatment of severe alopecia areata
Ruxolitinib can help regrow hair in severe alopecia areata.
research Drug-induced alopecia after dupilumab therapy
Dupilumab may cause significant hair loss, which can reverse after stopping the drug.
research Janus Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata: An Open-Label Comparative Study
Both ruxolitinib and tofacitinib are effective and safe for treating severe alopecia areata, but relapses are common.
research A randomized placebo-controlled single-center pilot study of the safety and efficacy of apremilast in subjects with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata
Apremilast was not effective in treating moderate-to-severe alopecia areata.
research Treatment of alopecia areata: An Australian expert consensus statement
Alopecia areata treatment varies, with no optimal method established yet.
research Tofacitinib 2% ointment, a topical Janus kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of alopecia areata: A pilot study of 10 patients
Tofacitinib 2% ointment helped hair regrow in 3 out of 10 patients with alopecia areata, but caused side effects like scalp irritation and raised cholesterol in some.
research Lack of efficacy of apremilast in 9 patients with severe alopecia areata
Apremilast did not work for treating severe alopecia areata.
research Oral ruxolitinib induces hair regrowth in patients with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata
Ruxolitinib effectively regrows hair in most patients with severe hair loss.
research Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Oral Tofacitinib Reverses Alopecia Universalis in a Patient with Plaque Psoriasis
A man with severe hair loss and skin disease regrew his hair with no side effects after taking tofacitinib.
Related
research Alopecia areata: A multifactorial autoimmune condition
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.
research Case report of novel combination of anthralin and calcipotriene leading to trichologic response in alopecia areata
A new mix of anthralin and calcipotriene might help treat severe hair loss.
research Linear alopecia areata
Alopecia areata can sometimes appear as a straight line of hair loss instead of round patches.
research Successful Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata With Oral or Topical Tofacitinib.
Oral and topical tofacitinib can help regrow hair in people with severe alopecia areata.
research Treating of resistant cases of alopecia universalis
Combining platelet-rich plasma therapy with prostaglandin-F eye drops can significantly regrow hair in alopecia universalis.
research Overview of Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a genetic and immune-related hair loss condition that is often associated with other autoimmune diseases and does not typically cause permanent damage to hair follicles.