new alopecia treatments show hair regrowth of 80%

get healthing in your inbox with the morning checkup and weekender newsletter!

the two medications, one manufactured by concert pharmaceuticals and the other by eli lilly, are showing success in treating the autoimmune disease which causes hair loss.

by maija kappler

published may 31, 2022

2 minute read

join the conversation

2 minute read

join the conversation

there may soon be several alopecia drugs on the market

alopecia is an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out — sometimes only in select areas, and sometimes all over the head or body. getty

a new treatment for alopecia appears to be successful in early clinical trials.

concert pharmaceuticals has reported that a quarter of patients who took its new drug ctp-543 twice a day reported regrowth of 80 per cent hair coverage. and 30 to 40 per cent of patients with alopecia areata, the second most common kind of alopecia, had their hair fully grow back.

alopecia is an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out — sometimes only in select areas, and sometimes all over the head or body. the disorder was thrust in the spotlight several months ago when will smith famously slapped chris rock for making a joke about smith’s wife’s hair. jada pinkett smith has spoken at length about her alopecia. (some conspiracy-minded people even joked the much-discussed slap could be viral marketing for the new drug.)

the first of two phase 3 trials studied 700 people with moderate to severe alopecia areata for 24 weeks. the participants had all lost at least half of their hair, with the average having just 16 per cent of hair left, people reported.

the drug’s early results are promising for alopecia treatment

“eighty per cent [regrowth] is a lot. i’d take that,” alopecia advocate thea chassin of bald girls do lunch told insider. “it’s very important to recognize that some hair growth, if it was a lower number like 20 or 30 per cent, that’s some hair, but it’s not a hairdo.”

the company’s chief executive roger tung told the boston globe that the trial has provided “some of the best data” about alopecia.

“like many other autoimmune diseases, it is one that has not received a ton of attention until relatively recently,” he said. he’s met people whose alopecia has caused them to have low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

“this can really screw up people’s lives,” he said.

this news comes after the huge pharmaceutical company eli lilly also reported positive results from two phase 3 trials of its own alopecia drug, baricitinib. about 40 per cent of eli lilly’s test patients had at least 80 per cent scalp coverage by the end of that trial, which lasted 52 weeks.

but tung told the globe he isn’t worried about competition: “honestly, i think there are enough patients… who are going to need treatment for alopecia areata that there will be multiple successful drugs,” he told the paper.

both drugs are classed as jak inhibitors, many which carry potential side effects, the globe points out. the eli lilly drug warns of side effects including increased infection risk and increased change in cardiovascular issues, lymphoma and lung cancer.

concert pharmaceuticals, meanwhile, reported five serious adverse effects, and though these effects weren’t specified, the company said there were no cases of pulmonary embolisms or deep vein thromboses.

there’s no known cure for alopecia, which is thought to impact about 147 million people worldwide.

maija kappler is a reporter and editor at healthing. you can reach her at mkappler@postmedia.com

don’t miss a thing: sign-up for healthing’s newsletter

thank you for your support. if you liked this story, please send it to a friend. every share counts.

new alopecia treatments show hair regrowth of 80%

the two medications, one manufactured by concert pharmaceuticals and the other by eli lilly, are showing success in treating the autoimmune disease which causes hair loss.

the drug’s early results are promising for alopecia treatment

what to know about alopecia, the disorder behind the oscars' most dramatic moment

know your body: what eyebrows do for you

advertisement

new alopecia treatments show hair regrowth of 80%

the two medications, one manufactured by concert pharmaceuticals and the other by eli lilly, are showing success in treating the autoimmune disease which causes hair loss.

the drug’s early results are promising for alopecia treatment

related stories

what to know about alopecia, the disorder behind the oscars' most dramatic moment

know your body: what eyebrows do for you

advertisement

advertisement

share story