From "total baldness" to regenerate 80% of hair!

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterized by scarring of hair loss that may also cause rapid loss of eyebrows or eyelashes
.

Alopecia areata can occur at any age, but is more common in young adults
.

There was no significant difference in incidence between the sexes
.

The unfortunate sufferer of alopecia areata can cause emotional and psychological problems
.

Mild alopecia areata lasting less than 12 months may resolve spontaneously, but large areas of alopecia areata are unlikely to resolve without treatment
.

However, so far, there are very limited treatments for alopecia areata
.

In a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on March 26, 2022, an international research team led by Yale University in the United States based on two phase 3 clinical trials showed that one-third of patients with severe Patients with alopecia areata were able to regrow hair after treatment with baricitinib
.

Phase 3 clinical trials are the final stages of testing before a new therapy is approved by the U.
S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
.

This means that once the trial reaches its endpoint, the drug may become the first FDA-approved treatment for alopecia areata
.

Baricitinib is an oral JAK kinase 1 and 2 inhibitor jointly developed by Eli Lilly and Incyte Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in adults
.

Previous studies have found that baricitinib may disrupt cytokine signaling involved in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata
.

In the new study, researchers conducted two large randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials involving a total of 1,200 adult patients with severe alopecia areata who had lost at least half their scalp and many had lost their hair completely
.

All participants were randomly assigned in a 3:2:2 ratio to receive once-daily oral baricitinib 4 mg, 2 mg, or placebo
.

Over a 36-week period, oral baricitinib was superior to placebo in hair regrowth in both trials
.

Nearly 40 percent of patients in the 4 mg dose group experienced a reduction in hair loss from an average of more than 85 percent to less than 20 percent
.

This means that nearly 40% of the patients recovered 80% of their hair (see head picture)
.

Common adverse events in both trials included acne, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, urinary tract infection and increased creatine kinase levels
.

"The data are exciting because they clearly show the effectiveness of baricitinib," said study senior author Brett King, MD, associate professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine
.
"
These large, controlled trials show that we can alleviate Some pain in patients with alopecia areata
.

" King noted that clinical trials of baricitinib are ongoing, which will allow researchers to assess the treatment's long-term efficacy and safety
.

Paper link: https://