Can a psoriasis drug help regrow hair? small study tests injections
NCT ID NCT07029204
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This pilot study tests whether injecting cyclosporine directly into the scalp can safely regrow hair in people with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss. Twelve adults with mild to moderate hair loss will receive either cyclosporine or saline injections over 12 weeks. The goal is to see if this approach works and is safe, potentially offering a new option with fewer side effects than oral cyclosporine.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cyclosporine
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new injection treatment for alopecia areata with fewer side effects than oral cyclosporine.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early pilot study with only 12 people, so results may not apply broadly. The treatment is still experimental and may not work or could cause side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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2 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Aug 2025
- Expected to finish
-
Oct 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 65 at screening visit. * Diagnosis of alopecia areata by a board-certified dermatologist at screening visit. * Current alopecia areata episode involving the scalp of more than 3 months' duration prior to baseline visit. * SALT Score between 10 and 50 at baseline visit. * Stable disease based on subject history over the past 1 month. * Agree not to use any alopecia areata treatments during the study, including, but not limited to: systemic therapies (eg, methotrexate, cyclosporine, corticosteroids, JAK inhibitors) and biologics (eg, monoclonal antibodies), intralesional corticosteroid injections, topical therapies, and phototherapy Exclusion Criteria: * Currently experiencing other forms of alopecia. Including but not limited to: androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, or any other concomitant conditions (eg, tinea capitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, or secondary syphilis) that could interfere with evaluation of alopecia areata * Previous treatment with cyclosporine * Other autoimmune diseases * Pregnancy or lactation * Have a history or presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, hematological, neurological, or neuropsychiatric disorders or any other serious and/or unstable illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, could constitute an unacceptable risk when taking study drug or interfere with the interpretation of data. These may include, but are not limited to, patients with untreated hypertension, patients with known renal disease with decreased GFR, and known infection. * Adults unable to consent * Prisoners * Currently using drugs that are well-substantiated to interact with cyclosporine, including the following: ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, trimethoprim with sulfamethaxazole, vancomycin, melphalan, amphotericin B, ketoconazole, azapropazon, colchicine, diclofenac, naproxen, sulindac, cimetidine, ranitidine, tacrolimus, fibric acid derivatives (e.g. bezafibrate, fenofibrate), and methotrexate.
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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
-
University of California, Davis - Dermatology Department
Sacramento, California, 95816, United States
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