JAK inhibitor deuruxolitinib shows encouraging hair re-growth in alopecia areata

Comparing oral deuruxolitinib with placebo resulted in significantly greater rates of improvement of alopecia areata in the THRIVE-AA1 trial. The distinction in the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score reductions was observed as early as week 8.

Alopecia areata is known to exert a substantial psychosocial burden and its negative effect on the quality of life may include depression or anxiety [1,2]. Currently, an unmet need still exists for highly efficacious therapies. After favourable results in phase 2, the JAK1/2 inhibitor deuruxolitinib has now been assessed in phase 3. The results from the THRIVE-AA1 trial (NCT04518995) were presented by Dr Maryanne Senna (Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, MA, USA) [2].

The trial included 706 adult patients with a SALT score ≥50 (SALT score 0 indicates no scalp hair loss and SALD score 100 indicates complete scalp hair loss). The mean duration of the current episode at baseline was 3.7 years, the mean SALT score was 85.9, and complete or near-complete hair loss (i.e. SALT ≥95) was present in 55.8% of the participants. The participants were randomised 2:3:5 to receive a placebo, deuruxolitinib 12 mg twice daily, or deuruxolitinib 8 mg twice daily.

The primary endpoint of a SALT score of 20 or less at week 24 was met by both dosing regimens: 29.6% on 8 mg and 41.5% on 12 mg (P<0.0001 vs placebo for both comparisons; see Figure). Interestingly, the SALT score differences between the active agent (low and high group) versus placebo were significant as of week 8. The proportions of participants with a SALT score ≤10 at week 24, a secondary endpoint, were 0%, 20.8%, and 34.5% for placebo, deuruxolitinib 8 mg, and 12 mg, respectively. A 90% reduction in SALT at week 24 was achieved by 19.2% and 32.0% in the 2 active treatment arms (both P<0.0001 vs placebo).

Figure: Primary efficacy endpoint of proportion of patients achieving SALT score ≤20 at week 24 [1]



The safety evaluations of THRIVE-AA1 considered deuruxolitinib as mostly well tolerated since over 95% of treatment-emergent adverse events were mild-to-moderate [3]. For long-term safety, open-label extensions are underway.

All in all, the study authors rated the efficacy of deuruxolitinib in the treatment of moderate-to-severe AA as encouraging.

1. Lintzeri DA, et al. Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2022;20:59–90.
2. Senna MM, et al. Efficacy of the oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor CTP-543 (Deuruxolitinib) in adult patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata: results from the multinational double-blind, placebo-controlled THRIVE-AA1 phase 3 trial. P41701, AAD 2023 Annual Meeting, 17–21 March, New Orleans, USA.
3. King B, et al. Safety assessments in the multinational phase 3 THRIVE-AA1 trial with CTP-543 (Deuruxolitinib) in adult patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata. P42736, AAD 2023 Annual Meeting, 17–21 March, New Orleans, USA.

Posted on 15 May, 202328 March, 2024