Drug updated on 4/16/2024
| Dosage Form | Capsule (oral; 50 mg) |
| Drug Class | Kinase inhibitors |
| Ongoing and Completed Studies | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Indication
- Indicated for or the treatment of severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents 12 years and older.
Summary
- Ritlecitinib (Litfulo) is indicated for the treatment of severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents 12 years and older, demonstrating notable efficacy among Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. This drug shows competitive performance compared to other JAK inhibitors such as baricitinib.
- Five systematic reviews/meta-analyses provided a comprehensive analysis focusing on ritlecitinib's safety, efficacy, and specific considerations for various populations and subgroups where available.
- In terms of effectiveness against alopecia areata, oral JAK inhibitors, including ritlecitinib, have shown significant hair regrowth potential when compared to other treatments like PDE-4 inhibitors or biologics which have limited efficacy so far.
- Safety profile assessments reveal that while side effects such as acne and headaches may occur with ritlecitinib use, it has a manageable safety profile with risks comparable to placebo for upper respiratory tract infections. Most adverse events were mild, indicating good tolerability of this drug.
- Randomized controlled trials did not show any significant difference between oral JAK inhibitor users versus control groups in experiencing most types of adverse events, suggesting a favorable safety profile overall. Adverse event reports from non-RCTs were mostly mild, aligning well with the general characterization seen.
- Although there is an absence of detailed subgroup analysis or population-specific considerations within these studies, some evidence suggests better outcomes in certain non-RCT subgroups using different JAK inhibitors, hinting at possible variations based on patient characteristics, but more comprehensive data would be needed for definitive conclusions.
Product Monograph / Prescribing Information
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Litfulo (ritlecitinib) Prescribing Information. | 2023 | Pfizer Inc., New York, NY |
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative efficacy of oral Janus kinase inhibitors and biologics in adult alopecia areata: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. | 2024 | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology |
| Safety of Janus Kinase inhibitors in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review. | 2023 | Clinical Drug Investigation |
| Adverse events in patients treated with Jak-inhibitors for alopecia areata: a systematic review. | 2023 | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology |
| Systematic review of newer agents for the management of alopecia areata in adults: Janus kinase inhibitors, biologics and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors. | 2023 | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology |
| The efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. | 2022 | Frontiers in Pharmacology |