- Design
- Phase 2 randomised dose-comparison trial
- Population
- 57 adults with severe alopecia areata
- Primary outcome
- Relative change in SALT score at week 24
- Effect
- 46.4% (90% CI 34.3 to 58.4) with 8 mg twice daily vs 18.0% (7.6 to 28.4) with 16 mg once daily
A phase 2 trial in JAAD (published 11 September) randomised 57 adults with severe alopecia areata to the JAK1/2 inhibitor deuruxolitinib, either 8 mg twice daily or 16 mg once daily, for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the relative change in the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score.
The twice-daily regimen produced a mean relative improvement of 46.4% (90% CI 34.3 to 58.4), against 18.0% (7.6 to 28.4) for the same total dose given once daily. More patients on twice-daily dosing reached a SALT score of 20 or less. Adverse events were mild or moderate.
The result matters because the drug's short half-life may need split dosing to keep the target suppressed. It is a small dose-finding study and does not compare deuruxolitinib with other JAK inhibitors. Availability in India is not established.
- Note that the same daily dose of deuruxolitinib worked better split twice daily in this phase 2 trial.
- Counsel patients that adherence to twice-daily dosing may matter for response.
- Apply standard JAK inhibitor screening and monitoring if prescribing any agent in this class for alopecia areata.
- Check local regulatory status before considering deuruxolitinib.
Why it matters
Dosing schedule, not just total dose, may decide whether a JAK inhibitor regrows hair.
Don't overread it
This is a 57-patient phase 2 dose comparison without a placebo arm.
The statistics, in plain English
The study used 90% confidence intervals, which are narrower than the usual 95%, so they overstate precision slightly. The intervals for the two doses did not overlap, which supports a real difference between schedules.
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