Newly approved drug offers ‘promising option’ to reverse hair loss
August 02, 2024
IN THE NEWS: The recent FDA approval of a new oral medication provides an effective therapy for people suffering from severe hair loss, said UCI Health dermatologist Dr. Natasha Mesinkovska.
On July 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the oral JAK inhibitor Leqselvi™ (deuruxolitinib) to treat adults with severe alopecia areata, a common autoimmune disease. Developed by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the drug blocks s the immune system from attacking hair follicles and causing hair loss on the scalp, face and other parts of the body. It is the third FDA-approved medication to treat alopecia areata, which affects an estimated 700,000 Americans.
The drug “offers a promising new option for patients to regrow hair” and transform lives, Mesinkovska said in an interview with Dermatology Times.
"Alopecia areata is not just a cosmetic issue; it significantly affects patients' lives. The average age of onset is in the 30s, a critical period for personal and professional development. Deuruxolitinib offers a chance to regrow hair and, with it, restore confidence and improve quality of life."
Mesinkovska, an investigator who was involved in the clinical development of deuruxolitinib, is an associate professor of dermatology and the vice chair for clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. She also is the director of integrative dermatology at the Beckman Laser Institute and a member of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation’s Scientific & Medical Advisory Task Force. She served as the foundation's chief scientific officer from 2015 to 2022.
A board-certified dermatologist, Mesinkovska specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders, including skin cancer. Her research interests include alopecia and dermatitis. She is the author or co-author of numerous peer-reviewed articles in major journals. She also is a principal investigator for several clinical trials involving alopecia, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and skin laxity.
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