Opinion|Videos|September 10, 2025
Exploring Ritlecitinib for Alopecia Areata
Key Takeaways
- Alopecia areata is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing non-scarring hair loss due to immune system attacks on hair follicles.
- Breakdown of immune privilege in hair follicles leads to infiltration by cytotoxic T cells, particularly CD8+ T cells.
Panelists discuss how ritlecitinib, approved by the FDA in 2023 as the first Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for adolescents with severe alopecia areata (AA), offers distinct properties that make it suitable for younger patients, and how its introduction influences treatment decisions and integration into the AA treatment algorithm, while addressing concerns around drug-to-drug interactions.
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Episodes in this series
Video content above is prompted by the following:
- Ungar: Ritlecitinib is the first and only treatment approved by the FDA, in 2023, for adolescents (age 12 and older+) with severe AA. What are its distinct properties compared to other JAK inhibitors that contribute to the potential use in adolescents?
- How does the introduction of a pediatric treatment option influence your treatment decision?
- Where does this leave ritlecitinib in the treatment algorithm for AA
- How do you deal with the drug-to-drug interactions associated with this therapy?
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