TLDR Ritlecitinib and brepocitinib effectively regrow hair in alopecia areata patients.
The study assessed the efficacy and safety of the oral Janus kinase inhibitors ritlecitinib and brepocitinib in 142 patients with alopecia areata (AA) with ≥ 50% scalp hair loss over 24 weeks. Both treatments significantly improved hair regrowth compared to placebo, with brepocitinib showing a greater mean difference in SALT score change from baseline. Specifically, 50% of patients on ritlecitinib and 64% on brepocitinib achieved a 30% improvement in SALT score, compared to only 2% in the placebo group. The treatments were generally well tolerated, although two serious adverse events (rhabdomyolysis) occurred in the brepocitinib group. The study concluded that both drugs were effective and safe for treating AA, highlighting the potential of JAK inhibitors in treating the condition, but noted limitations such as demographic representation and the need for longer-term studies.
130 citations,
February 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Tofacitinib may help treat severe hair loss, but more research is needed.
196 citations,
September 2016 in “JCI insight” Ruxolitinib effectively regrows hair in most patients with severe hair loss.
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.
701 citations,
August 2014 in “Nature medicine” Alopecia areata can be reversed by JAK inhibitors, promoting hair regrowth.
421 citations,
April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.
4 citations,
June 2023 in “Frontiers in immunology” JAK inhibitors help hair regrowth in alopecia areata but have a high risk of side effects.
2 citations,
June 2023 in “Indian journal of dermatology, venereology, and leprology” Janus kinase inhibitors can regrow hair in alopecia areata but may cause side effects and hair loss may return if treatment stops.
1 citations,
January 2023 in “Przegląd Dermatologiczny” The Polish Society of Dermatology recommends treatments for alopecia areata that vary by severity, including topical and systemic medications, with long-term maintenance important for management.
37 citations,
August 2022 in “Frontiers in pharmacology” Oral JAK inhibitors are effective and safe for treating alopecia areata but may need ongoing use to keep results.
July 2023 in “IntechOpen eBooks” New treatments for alopecia areata show promise, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
3 citations,
May 2023 in “Clinical drug investigation” JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata are linked to minor side effects like headache and acne, but not to an increased risk of serious adverse events.
