What is the effect of taking Baricitinib for nine months for alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata (alopecia areata) is an autoimmune disease that typically manifests as localized or systemic patches of hair loss. Baricitinib (Baricitinib) is an immunosuppressant that has been used in some studies to treat alopecia areata. Although still in the research stage, there are some clinical trial data that show that baricitinib may have potential in the treatment of alopecia areata. The following will discuss the efficacy of baricitinib in patients with alopecia areata after taking baricitinib for nine months based on existing clinical trial data.

A clinical trial of baricitinib in alopecia areata (NCT02788811) showed some promising results. The study included 47 patients with alopecia areata who received baricitinib. The treatment period was 24 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of follow-up observation. During treatment, patients took 2 mg of baricitinib orally every day. At the final evaluation of treatment, approximately 80% of patients showed partial or complete hair regrowth. The study also found that the incidence of hair regrowth increased significantly within the first 1616 weeks after treatment began.

Another clinical trial of baricitinib in the treatment of alopecia areata (NCT03594291) also supported the efficacy of baricitinib. The study included 14 alopecia areata patients, and the treatment period was 24 weeks. During the course of treatment, patients took baricitinib 2 mg orally daily. At post-treatment evaluation, 71% of patients showed partial or complete hair regrowth. The study also observed a gradual acceleration in hair regrowth after treatment was initiated, suggesting that baricitinib may take time to show significant effects.

Although the sample sizes of these clinical trials were relatively small, the results suggest that baricitinib may be an effective drug in the treatment of alopecia areata. However, further large-scale clinical trials are needed to validate these results and better understand the safety and long-term efficacy of baricitinib.

Patients and doctors need to pay close attention to potential side effects and risks when using baricitinib. Baricitinib, as an immunosuppressant, may increase the risk of infection. Therefore, patients should receive adequate medical monitoring and undergo regular immune function tests as recommended by their doctors. In addition, baricitinib may cause other adverse reactions, such as headache, nausea, hypertension, etc. Therefore, physicians should conduct a thorough patient evaluation and weigh the potential benefits and risks before using baricitinib.

In conclusion, baricitinib shows certain potential in the treatment of alopecia areata and can promote hair regeneration. However, more large-scale clinical trials are needed to validate these results and more fully evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of baricitinib. For patients with alopecia areata, use of baricitinib should be discussed in detail with a physician and treated under medical supervision.

Baricitinib has been launched in China and is included in medical insurance. Patients can purchase it domestically. Due to different medical insurance reimbursement policies in different regions, the reimbursement ratio is also different. The price is about 1200~1600 yuan. For specific prices, please consult the local pharmacy or the medical insurance bureau. Baricitinib has both original and generic drugs abroad. The original drug is mainly Eli Lilly’s original drug, and its price is higher than in China. Generic drugs are mainly Bangladeshi generic drugs, and the price is around 450 yuan. The ingredients of original drugs and generic drugs are basically the same.