The efficacy of baricitinib/alemin in patients with alopecia areata for six months

Judging from published studies and real-world medication experience, the efficacy of Baricitinib in patients with severe alopecia areata is certain to be stable and sustainable. Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disease that targets hair follicles. Immune cells mistakenly attack the hair follicle structure, causing the hair growth cycle to be interrupted. By inhibiting the JAK signaling pathway, baricitinib reduces the immune attack of inflammatory factors on hair follicles and creates conditions for hair follicles to re-enter the growth phase. Therefore, its mechanism of action is not to "stimulate hair growth" but to "restore the immune environment of hair follicles."

A number of large overseas studies have shown that after continuous treatment for about about 6 months, some patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata can observe a more obvious trend of hair regeneration, which is especially clinically significant in patients with large areas of scalp hair loss. It is worth noting that this type of improvement is usually gradual and not a short-term rapid hair growth. In the early stage, it is more characterized by the growth of thin and soft new hair, and then gradually thickens and becomes denser. The study also suggests that the longer the treatment lasts, the higher the possibility of maintaining the effect. Some patients have a tendency to further reduce the scope of hair loss during long-term medication.

However, overseas data also emphasize that there are individual differences in efficacy, which are related to the duration of the disease, the degree of immune activity and whether it is combined with other autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the six-month treatment cycle is often viewed as a more critical assessment point rather than an endpoint. In clinical practice, most doctors will comprehensively evaluate the benefits and safety at this point in time before deciding whether to continue taking the medication.

In general, baricitinib provides a new targeting idea for alopecia areata, a disease that has long lacked systemic treatment options. Its value is more reflected in the level of "immune reconstruction" rather than short-term appearance improvement.

Reference materials:https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/olumiant