Following the recent BRAVE-AA trials Olumiant (baricitinib) has become the first USFDA approved systemic treatment (i.e. treats the entire body rather than a specific location) for Alopecia Areata.
About the new Drug (Baricitinib)
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition characterized by rapid hair loss in the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes, for which treatments are limited. Baricitinib may interrupt cytokine signalling implicated in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata.
See the full results of the two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled BRAVE-AA trials.
FDA Announcement
The FDA commented on the announcement:
“Access to safe and effective treatment options is crucial for the significant number of Americans affected by severe alopecia,” said Kendall Marcus, M.D., director of the Division of Dermatology and Dentistry in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval will help fulfill a significant unmet need for patients with severe alopecia areata.”
For full details visit fda.gov
About the Author
Dr Dmitri Wall
Dermatologist
MB BCh BAO RCP
Dr Wall contributes to a number of national and international committees and projects, such as the European Reference Network for Rare and Undiagnosed Skin Disease (ERN Skin), for which he is the eHealth lead, and the British Association of Dermatologists Health Informatics Sub Committee. He has presented regularly at national and international dermatology meetings, such as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology annual meetings.
