Baricitinib maintains SALT score ≤20 in adults with severe alopecia areata over 152 weeks.
This phase 3 randomized controlled trial assessed continuous baricitinib treatment in 196 adults with severe alopecia areata. The sample included 129 patients receiving 4 mg and 67 receiving 2 mg. The primary outcome was maintenance of a SALT score ≤20 at week 152 (35.1 months).
At week 152, 89.1% of patients on the 4 mg dose (115 of 129) and 83.6% on the 2 mg dose (56 of 67) maintained a SALT score ≤20. The study reported relative rates for this effect size. Secondary outcomes included adverse events of special interest and regrowth across scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
Safety data indicated the incidence rate of adverse events of special interest remained consistent relative to earlier safety reports. No new safety signals were identified. Serious adverse events and discontinuation rates were not reported.
A key limitation is that the analysis does not include outcomes of patients without a SALT score ≤20 response at week 52, who continued therapy post-week 52. This may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Given the evidence, baricitinib appears to maintain hair response in this specific trial population over 152 weeks. Practice relevance was not reported, and the findings should be contextualized within the study's design and limitations.