Four years after Dr. Alicia Pylypczuk killed herself as a result of her battle with depression brought on by alopecia, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has approved a new drug, ritlecitinib. The drug is meant to treat severe alopecia in patients aged 12 and above. One of the significant effects of alopecia is that the immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to hair loss. The drug reduces that inflammatory response.
A clinical trial of the drug yielded positive results. Nearly 25% of adults who took the drug along with adolescents experienced significant hair regrowth that covered at least 80% of their scalps in 24 weeks. While some alopecia sufferers are cautiously optimistic about the medication, others remain wary. Sam McGregor, an actor from Newcastle who suffers from alopecia, says he won’t take the treatment even though it has helped other people with the condition. Megan McGready, a Scottish student who has alopecia, welcomes the new drug and is looking forward to trying it.
Alicia’s mother’s belief that her daughter would have taken the drug reflects the desperation people with alopecia feel, says her stepfather. Alicia’s personality stood out as gregarious, but her condition affected her to such an extent that she lost her identity. The new drug gives the alopecia community a glimmer of hope, he added. However, the drug carries a significant cost. A month’s supply could cost the NHS just under £1,000, and progress monitoring requires regular blood tests.
While ritlecitinib’s approval brings a new dimension to the treatment of alopecia, it is also a poignant story that highlights the impact of alopecia on individuals and their families. With the drug’s approval, there is hope that sufferers of alopecia can better manage the condition and regain their self-esteem
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