Alopecia areata

Baricitinib

Baricitinib, an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, is the first systemic drug to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicine Agency to treat adults with severe alopecia areata. The approval is based on two randomized placebo-controlled phase 3 trials, which demonstrated that oral baricitinib increased hair regrowth at 36 weeks, compared with placebo, in people with severe alopecia areata.[24]King B, Ohyama M, Kwon O, et al. Two phase 3 trials of baricitinib for alopecia areata. N Engl J Med. 2022 May 5;386(18):1687-99. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35334197?tool=bestpractice.com Adverse effects included acne, elevated levels of creatine kinase, and increased levels of low and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.[24]King B, Ohyama M, Kwon O, et al. Two phase 3 trials of baricitinib for alopecia areata. N Engl J Med. 2022 May 5;386(18):1687-99. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35334197?tool=bestpractice.com Longer trials are required to assess the efficacy and safety of baricitinib for alopecia areata.