Researchers from New York’s Columbia University have uncovered a potentially new

treatment for alopecia areata: an oral cancer drug known as ruxolitinib.

In a carefully designed study, the researchers first showed first that the drug ruxolitinib was

effective in a mouse model of alopecia areata. After showing it worked it mice, the

researchers then tested the drug in three patients with alopecia areata. All three patients

experienced hair growth in a few months. Although the study was performed in only a small

number of patients, it opens the door for further study of this medication.

What is Ruxolitinib?

Ruxolitib is a type of cancer drug. It is not a new drug and in fact is already on the market to

treat a rare bone marrow cancer called myelofibrosis as well as a few other conditions. The

drug belongs to a group of medications that inhibits signals within immune cells called the

JAK kinase. Two months ago, researchers from Yale University reported that another JAK

inhibitor drug called tofacitinib helped a 25 year old man with alopecia areata regrow his

hair. Ruxolitinib is therefore the second medication in this class that can potentially help

treat alopecia.

Can Ruxolitinib be used for patients with alopecia areata?

Further studies are needed to determine if the cancer drug ruxolitinib is safe and effective

for patients with alopecia areata before determining if it should or should not be prescribed

to larger numbers of patients. Certainly, results from the first three patients are encouraging.

One of the tremendously exciting things about this study is that the drug is already on the

market and if it does prove safe it can rapidly be brought to the clinic.

Ruxolitinib is currently prescribed by cancer physicians and patients who use the drug need

to be carefully monitored. It can cause a drop in blood counts, and can increase the chance

of bleeding and bruising. Some patients are more prone to infections while on the

medication. Rarely other side effects such as irritation of the heart and liver, weight gain and

elevated cholesterol levels can occur.

Conclusion

We’ll be hearing a lot more about Ruxolitinib in the months and years ahead. Efforts are also

underway to create a topical form of the drug rather than a pill as this may ultimately prove

much safer.

Reference

Study article: Xing et al. Alopecia areata is driven by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and is reversed by JAK inhibition. Nature Medicine. Published online August 17, 2014