FDA Approves First Pill To Treat Severe Alopecia Hair Loss

Following the fiasco at the Oscars involving Chris Rock and Will Smith, the world learned about alopecia areata, a disorder that causes severe hair loss and baldness in more than 300,000 people in the US annually. 

Fortunately, suffers of the condition can now look forward to a breakthrough treatment, with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving the first oral tablets to be used to treat adults. This marks the first time a systemic treatment for the disease has been given the green light. 

“Access to safe and effective treatment options is crucial for the significant number of Americans affected by severe alopecia,” said Kendall Marcus, MD, Director of the Division of Dermatology and Dentistry in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

In short, alopecia occurs as an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack its own hair follicles, causing hair to fall out in clumps. The new pill, Olumiant, aims to stop this as a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, blocking the enzymes that lead to the inflammation in the first place. 

In two randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled studies, the drug showed that patients were able to achieve at least 80% scalp hair coverage over 36 weeks.

Specifically, in the second trial, 22% of 184 patients who received 2 mg of Olumiant and 35% of 281 patients who received 4 mg of the same medication recovered adequate scalp coverage, as compared to only 5% who took the placebo. 

While this news is certainly promising, it’s advised that patients first consult their doctors before opting for the treatment, as it could induce various side effects when taken alone or in combination with other medication. 

[via IFL Science and FDA, cover image via Iuliia Alekseeva | Dreamstime.com]