BERLIN – The open-label extension trials of deuruxolitinib for alopecia areata in adults show a persistent climb in response with the majority of patients achieving complete or near complete hair regrowth by 52 weeks, according to data presented at the annual congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Dr Brett King
With response curves still climbing at follow-up to date, the results are "truly, truly remarkable," said Brett King, MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
Deuruxolitinib is a JAK inhibitor that has specificity for the 1 and 2 subtypes. At 24 weeks in the phase 3 THRIVE-AA1 and THRIVE-AA2 trials, presented at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting earlier this year, about 40% of those on the 12-mg twice-daily dose and 32% of those on the 8-mg twice-daily dose achieved a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score of ≤ 20%, signifying 80% or greater hair regrowth at 24 weeks. The placebo response was 0%.
By 52 weeks, the proportion had climbed to 62% among those on continuous deuruxolitinib whether maintained on the 8-mg or 12-mg twice daily doses. Among patients on placebo, 58.4% reached this endpoint after being switched at 24 weeks to the 12-mg twice daily dose. Of the patients on placebo switched to 8 mg twice daily, the 52-week response was 45.2%, according to Dr. King.