Experimental drug aims to halt scarring hair loss

NCT ID NCT05549934

First seen Jul 15, 2026 · Last updated Jul 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study tests an experimental drug called ritlecitinib in people with cicatricial alopecia, a type of hair loss where hair follicles are permanently destroyed and replaced by scar tissue. The drug works by blocking certain enzymes involved in inflammation. Researchers will check if the drug is safe and how it affects biomarkers in skin and blood samples from 50 adult participants.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
ritlecitinib, a JAK3/TEC inhibitor taken as tablets
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward a treatment for cicatricial alopecia, a scarring hair loss condition with no effective therapies.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase pilot study with only 50 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drug may not show benefit or could have side effects.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

    New York, New York, 10029, United States

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