Alopecia Areata: Ritlecitinib Generates Substantial Re-Growth of Scalp Hair

The ALLEGRO-LT trial evaluated the efficacy of ritlecitinib, an oral JAK3/TEC family kinase inhibitor, in treating alopecia areata (AA). The study included 449 participants with a mean age of 32.9 years, 64.4% of whom were women, and a mean Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score of 74.5. After 15 months of treatment, 83–93% of participants, excluding those with the most severe AA, achieved at least 80% scalp hair re-growth. The most severe group, with a baseline SALT score of 95–100, improved to a median score of 31. Adverse events led to discontinuation in 4.9% of patients, but no new safety concerns were identified. Dr. Athanasios Tsianakas noted that starting treatment at more advanced stages of AA could reduce the likelihood of success.