FDA finally okays drug to address hair loss

…After amazing clinical trial

A drug to treat severe alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The condition, which has become more widely known, affects more than 300,000 people in the United States every year.
On Monday, the FDA approved a drug called baricitinib as the first oral tablet for treating severe alopecia areata. Alopecia causes either temporary or permanent hair loss that can affect any hair-bearing site of the body, leading to emotional distress. The approval for use against alopecia was based on the results of two randomized, controlled clinical trials involving a total 1,200 adults with severe alopecia. Baricitinib, which is made by US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and known by the trade name Olumiant, belongs to a class of drugs called Janus kinase inhibitors. It works by interfering with the cellular pathway that leads to inflammation.
“Access to safe and effective treatment options is crucial for the significant number of Americans affected by severe alopecia,” said FDA official Kendall Marcus in a statement.