Etrasimod for Alopecia Areata: The Scenario for a Less Extensive and Moderate Form

The study on etrasimod, a selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, for treating moderate to severe alopecia areata (AA) did not achieve its primary and secondary efficacy endpoints, showing no statistically significant results in improving the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores compared to placebo. Conducted over 52 weeks with 2 cohorts, the trial found that etrasimod was safe and well-tolerated, with mild treatment-emergent adverse events in 74.7% of participants. Despite the lack of significant efficacy, the study suggests potential for etrasimod in treating less extensive and moderate forms of AA due to its safety profile. Future research should consider episode duration and more detailed stratification to improve therapeutic outcomes.