Long-Term Deuruxolitinib Data Show Durable Responses in Alopecia: Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD

Deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi; Sun Pharma), an oral selective inhibitor of Janus kinases JAK1 and JAK2, has shown quick and durable efficacy for patients with alopecia areata, according to Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, Waldman Professor of Dermatology and Immunology and health system chair of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

The therapy was found safe and effective in patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata in the THRIVE-AA1 (NCT04518995) and THRIVE-AA2 trials (NCT04797650), leading to its FDA approval in 2024.¹

In an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®, Guttman-Yassky discussed deuruxolitinib's impressive efficacy in alopecia areata and how the alopecia areata treatment space is changing.

This transcript has been lightly edited; captions are auto-generated.

Transcript

What do the THRIVE-AA1 and THRIVE-AA2 open-label extension data show about durability of response with deuruxolitinib?

The long-term extension was great. Not only were the results durable, but some patients also gained extra efficacy over time. So the results were really good, definitely. In terms of efficacy, [there were] quick responses, maintenance, and even gaining more responses. All this was excellent.

What trends do you expect to see in alopecia areata treatment going forward?

I am very excited about also introducing targeted treatments into alopecia areata, biologics. Because alopecia areata patients will have the disease for life. The moment they stop the JAKs, they will lose all their hair. Ideally, we would like to introduce a treatment that can be given long-term that is safe. I can see in the future either using biologics also for alopecia areata, or maybe combinations between oral JAKs for a while so that you grow hair rapidly, but then maintain the patients on a biologic. I think that may be the future. Topical agents do not work in alopecia areata, and there are many studies already done, so I think we put that to rest.

What unmet needs remain in alopecia areata management?

I think we have the unmet need that we want treatments that will be targeted approaches, so biologics. I think we would love to introduce some of these. They may grow hair slower than JAK inhibitors, but safety is also very important, and something that has safety that you don't need to monitor labs over time can be very meaningful. Definitely, I can see the development of biologics for alopecia, and this is a big unmet need. Also, I think scarring alopecia is a big unmet need. We actually showed that a JAK inhibitors can work in scarring alopecia. And scarring alopecia is a field where a topical may work, as well, because the pathology is a little bit closer to the surface.

Are there any developments in the alopecia areata space that you are particularly excited about?

It's an exciting time for alopecia, because we didn't have anything, and now more and more treatments are coming. And it's also exciting for patients that for a while we were telling them, "Oh, there is nothing to do," and now they have hope. We see patients growing hair. It's all satisfying for us as physicians and for patients, and I think the future looks brighter.

References

1. Santoro C. FDA approves deuruxolitinib for alopecia areata. AJMC^®. July 26, 2024. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/fda-approves-deuruxolitinib-for-alopecia-areata