Up to 14,000 people could benefit from the first treatment for severe alopecia recommended by NICE

Thousands of people with severe hair loss due to alopecia areata are set to benefit from a new one-a-day capsule to help treat the condition. Ritlecitinib (also known as Litfulo and made by Pfizer) is recommended by NICE as an option for treating severe alopecia areata in people aged 12 and over.

 

The treatment, taken as a daily pill at home, works by reducing the enzymes that cause inflammation and subsequent hair loss at the follicle. It is the first treatment for severe alopecia areata recommended by NICE for use on the NHS.

 

Evidence from clinical trials shows that ritlecitinib is more effective than placebo at improving hair regrowth and that response rates continued to improve for people taking ritlecitinib for up to two years.”