Is there new hope for alopecia patients seeking rapid hair growth?

Around 2.5% of the U.S. population is affected by alopecia areata, which is a type of hair loss that occurs when the hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by the immune system. There are various treatment methods for alopecia, including corticosteroids (injectable, topical, or oral), topical immunotherapy, and oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors like baricitinib. Recently, a new oral medication has been released for treatment, called Leqselvi (deuruxolitinib). It's a JAK inhibitor made for those with severe alopecia, where the drug targets immune pathways involved in inflammation.

One of the key concerns for those with alopecia is finding treatments that offer rapid, but visible results. Therefore, the main goal for the researchers was to improve hair growth in less than 24 weeks (as measured by the Severity of Alopecia Tool).

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In this study, over 1,200 adult participants across the U.S., Canada, and Europe were randomized to receive either Leqselvi twice a day or a placebo. Of those taking Leqselvi, more than 30% of participants experienced 80% or more scalp hair coverage at 24 weeks, and up to 25% had nearly full regrowth (or more than 90% coverage). These are incredible results considering the participants, on average, had only 13% of their scalp hair remaining at the beginning of the study.

However, like most therapies that target the immune system, there are risks and side effects. The most common side effects identified in the study include headaches (12.4%), acne (10%), and nasopharyngitis (8.1%). Although this may be a drawback for some, the drug does offer promise for quick, noticeable hair growth, which is one of the top priorities for alopecia patients. With the drug newly on the market, researchers can also now begin to collect real-world evidence to evaluate the long-term and large-scale impacts of the treatment.

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