The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Olumiant (baricitinib) oral tablets to treat adult patients with severe alopecia areata, a disorder that often appears as patchy baldness and affects more than 300,000 people in the U.S. each year.
Olumiant is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, a type of drug that works by blocking the activity of certain proteins involved in inflammation. In clinical trials, Olumiant was shown to be effective in increasing hair growth in patients with severe alopecia areata.
The most common side effects of Olumiant include upper respiratory tract infections, headache, and acne. Olumiant can also increase the risk of serious infections, such as tuberculosis.
“The approval of Olumiant for alopecia areata is a significant advance for patients who have been living with this devastating disease,” said Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the FDA. “This approval provides patients with a new oral treatment option that has the potential to regrow hair and improve their quality of life.”
Olumiant is the first systemic treatment approved for alopecia areata. Other treatments for alopecia areata include topical steroids, minoxidil, and cyclosporine. These treatments can be effective for some people, but they may not work for everyone.
The approval of Olumiant is a welcome development for patients with severe alopecia areata. This drug offers a new treatment option that has the potential to regrow hair and improve quality of life.
What is alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. It is thought to be caused by the body’s immune system attacking the hair follicles. Alopecia areata can affect anyone, but it is most common in people between the ages of 15 and 40.
Symptoms of alopecia areata
The most common symptom of alopecia areata is patchy baldness. The hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, but it is most common on the scalp. In some cases, the hair loss can be severe and cause complete baldness.
Treatment for alopecia areata
There is no cure for alopecia areata, but there are treatments that can help to regrow hair. The most common treatments for alopecia areata are topical steroids, minoxidil, and cyclosporine. These treatments can be effective for some people, but they may not work for everyone.
The approval of Olumiant is a significant advance for patients with severe alopecia areata. This drug offers a new treatment option that has the potential to regrow hair and improve quality of life.
