Dermatologists Discuss the FDA Approval of Baricitinib for Alopecia Areata

 On June 13, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral baricitinib (Olumiant) tablets for the treatment of severe alopecia areata in adults, which marked the first approval of a systemic treatment for the disorder.

The approval has excited patients and providers alike who struggled for decades to treat severe cases of this autoimmune disorder.

For this episode of DocTalk, several key opinion leaders in the dermatology field sound off on the implications of this decision, as well as the versatility of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and how this approval will aid providers in redefining alopecia areata as an autoimmune disorder rather than simply a cosmetic condition, which will help more patients receive proper care.

Joining us on the podcast, and in written form, are the following dermatologists:

·      Brett King, MD, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven

·      Lisa Arkin, MD, member of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health / American Family Children's Hospital.

·      Karan Lal, DO, MS, FAAD, Schweiger Dermatology Group and member of The Society for Pediatric Dermatology 

·      Brittany Craiglow, MD, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven