New JAK Inhibitor Deuruxolitinib Approved, Poised to Become first-Line Treatment for Severe Alopecia Areata
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The FDA has approved deuruxolitinib (Cytokine Therapeutics Corporation), offering a new therapeutic option for adults with severe alopecia areata (AA).Data presented at the American Academy of Dermatology and a recent network meta-analysis suggest the twice-daily 8 mg dose might potentially be the most effective oral JAK inhibitor currently available for the condition.
Deuruxolitinib’s approval is based on data from the THRIVE-AA1 and THRIVE-AA2 trials, evaluating efficacy and safety in adults with moderate to severe AA. At week 24, 31% of patients on the 8 mg twice a day dose achieved a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score ≤20, indicating critically important hair regrowth. The drug can be taken with or without food.1,2
According to Dr. Prajapati, investigators and patients involved in clinical trials demonstrated high satisfaction with treatment outcomes. An ongoing trial is further evaluating deuruxolitinib’s efficacy in adolescents with severe AA, possibly broadening its request across age groups.
Clinicians are already evaluating how deuruxolitinib compares to othre FDA-approved JAK inhibitors, baricitinib (Olumianr; eli Lilly) and ritlecitinib (Litfulo; Pfizer). A network meta-analysis published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology identified deuruxolitinib 8 mg twice a day as the most effective regimen for achieving both SALT 20 and SALT 10 scores at week 24, with baricitinib 4 mg daily and ritlecitinib 50 mg daily ranking lower.3
Dr. Prajapati anticipates deuruxolitinib will become a first-line treatment option for adults with severe AA, emphasizing the need for clinicians to gain experience with the drug in both JAK inhibitor-naïve and -experienced patients to optimize its use. He described the current landscape as a “new era of discovery” for AA,with three approved JAK inhibitors and ongoing research in younger populations offering renewed hope for patients.
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