FDA approves Leqselvi (deuruxolitinib) to treat Alopecia areata,- Sun Pharma

Alopecia areata affects around 700,000 people in the United States, and 300,000 have severe alopecia areata. Alopecia often leads patients to self-treat before seeking professional help, driven by dissatisfaction with the slow progress of existing treatments.

“Leqselvi offers a new and effective solution that will significantly enhance options for long-suffering patients battling severe alopecia areata and their physicians,” said Abhay Gandhi, CEO, North America Business, Sun Pharma. “Our fast-growing dermatology business is excited to add this novel treatment to its portfolio.”

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease in which hair loss is thought to occur due to the collapse of immune privilege, leading to the immune system targeting the hair follicles and causing sudden hair loss on the scalp, face and sometimes other areas of the body. Leqselvi is a new, twice daily oral selective inhibitor of Janus Kinases (JAK) JAK1 and JAK2. As a JAK inhibitor, Leqselvi interrupts the pathways thought to contribute to hair loss in severe alopecia areata.