The following is a summary of “A phase 2a trial of brepocitinib for cicatricial alopecia,” published in the October 2024 issue of Dermatology by David et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to investigate molecular dysregulation in cicatricial alopecias (CA), chronic scarring hair-loss conditions, focusing on Th1/IFNγ signaling and JAK dysregulation to support a phase 2a trial with the TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor brepocitinib.
They examined patients with CA and were randomized 3:1 to receive brepocitinib 45mg daily or placebo for 24 weeks, followed by brepocitinib for another 24 weeks. Lesional scalp biopsies were collected at baseline, week 24, and week 48. The co-primary endpoints were changes in lesional expression of CCL5 and fibrosis-related markers, as well as safety at week 24.
The results showed a significant downregulation of CCL5 expression in patients receiving brepocitinib at week 24 (P =0.004). Enrichment analysis revealed a trend towards upregulation of fibrosis markers in placebo patients (P <0.1). Brepocitinib was well tolerated, and clinical severity scores improved.
Investigators concluded that brepocitinib reduced CCL5 expression, improved clinical severity, and tolerated well by week 24, achieving co-primary endpoints and maintaining a favorable safety profile.
Source: jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)03043-3/abstract
