The new medication is said to reduce inflammation
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised a new drug today (1 November) to treat severe alopecia areata.
Litfulo is the new hard capsule medicine with a recommended dosage of just 50 mg per day.
It contains an active ingredient, ritlecitinib, an enzyme inhibitor treatment for patients over 12 years.
Ritlecitinib works by reducing the activity of enzymes in the body called JAK3 and TEC kinases that cause hair follicle inflammation.
This reduction in inflammation leads to hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s own immune system attacks hair follicles leading to hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body.
The most common side effects of the medicine include headache, diarrhoea, dizziness, acne, rash, tuberculosis (TB), and shingles.
Pharmacy Business has contacted MHRA for further information.
