This new oral drug is currently the only effective treatment for severe alopecia, which often manifests at a younger age.
Severe hair loss in individuals with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that affects two out of every hundred people, could potentially be treated with daily intake of an oral medication over several months. The results of a recent randomized, double-blind clinical trial have shown excellent outcomes, leading to the approval of the medication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for individuals aged 12 and above. The application for approval of the drug in Europe is also expected.
The Psychological Burden of the Disease
As reported in The Lancet journal, the oral medication ritlecitinib has restored up to 80 percent of lost scalp hair in nearly one-fourth of all patients, making it currently the only effective treatment for severe alopecia that is well-tolerated by a significant number of individuals. It is also the only medication approved for use in children.
While symptoms of alopecia areata can occur at any age, most individuals begin to notice patchy hair loss in their teenage, twenties, or thirties, making this medication particularly important for treating younger patients with significant hair loss,” says dermatologist Brittany Craiglow from Yale University. Last year, another medication for alopecia (baricitinib) was approved, but only for adult treatment. The disease also carries mental difficulties as most individuals with severe alopecia struggle to cope with the condition. Additionally, cases of severe hair loss are typically resistant to available treatments, but the new medication could help change that.
More Effective in the Early Stage
In previous analyses, including scalp biopsies, it appears that the medication suppresses the overactive immune response of the body. Unfortunately, this means that patients may be more susceptible to infections and illnesses while undergoing therapy.
The clinical trial of the medication involved over 700 alopecia patients from 18 countries. In total, approximately 23 percent of patients treated for six months showed 80 percent or greater scalp hair coverage. Those who have had the disease for a longer duration experience poorer outcomes, suggesting that the medication is most effective in the early stages of alopecia onset (within a year).
