China's First Drug for Severe Alopecia Areata in Adults Approved; Domestic and Global Players Race in the Billion-Dollar Hair Loss Market

In June 2023, Pfizer's JAK inhibitor Ritlecitinib (LITFULO) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of alopecia areata in adolescents aged 12 years and older and adults. The recommended dose of LITFULO is 50 mg. This is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for adolescents (12+) with severe alopecia areata, but it has not yet been launched in China. Currently, there are no domestically produced JAK inhibitors approved for marketing in China. However, two JAK inhibitors, Jaktinib and Ermacitinib, are under regulatory review for marketing authorization for myelofibrosis and atopic dermatitis, respectively. Their clinical trials for treating alopecia areata are both in Phase 3.