FDA approves hair loss drug for teens and adults with alopecia areata.

The FDA has approved Ritlecitinib, a once-daily pill manufactured by Pfizer, for kids ages 12 and older with severe alopecia areata, a disease that causes hair loss. The medication has a list price of $49,000 for a full year supply, but Pfizer has stated that there will be copay savings for commercially insured patients and a patient assistance program for eligible patients. Ritlecitinib is a JAK inhibitor that interferes with signals in the body that cause inflammation. Over 24 weeks of treatment, about 30% of people participating in the trials regrew their hair. The medication is considered a treatment for alopecia, not a cure.