Medicine for the treatment of alopecia, recommended for first use by the NHS

A drug to treat people with severe hair loss has been recommended for use by the NHS for the first time.

Ritlecitinib, a tablet manufactured by Pfizer that is taken once a day, has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) for use on the NHS in the treatment of people with severe alopecia.

Alopecia areata affects around 400,000 people in the UK at any time in their lives.

It is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system mistakes the hair follicle as a foreign body and attacks it. The treatment works by reducing the enzymes that cause inflammation and hair loss in the follicle.

The recommendation comes after Nice rejected the drug in September 2023. It has been recommended that the manufacturer follow suit by providing the watchdog with additional information and a greater price discount.

Helen Knight, director of drug evaluation in Nice, said: “Our committee heard how severe alopecia areata can have a significant impact on people’s health and quality of life. I’m delighted that we can now recommend this innovative treatment, the first time Nice has recommended a drug for severe alopecia areata for use on the NHS.

“It is particularly pleasing that we can recommend ritlecitinib just 16 weeks after it was licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), demonstrating Nice’s commitment to providing patients with the best care quickly.”

Sue Schilling, CEO of Alopecia UK, said: “I thank our volunteers who took part in this process and thank the committee for their work in reaching this decision. This is a monumental day for the alopecia areata community.”

“For far too long, patients with alopecia areata have not had a recognized treatment option available through the NHS. If new treatments are only available privately, it becomes a case of ‘haves and the have nots’. This latest recommendation from Nice will go some way to addressing this.”

She added: “Our community continues to face significant barriers, including difficulties in obtaining a dermatology referral from their GP, unacceptable waiting times for dermatology, and even some NHS trusts making the decision not to offer dermatology appointments for alopecia patients to allow. There is no longer the excuse that there is no recognized treatment available. I urge key decision makers within the NHS to keep referral pathways open for patients with alopecia areata.”

An NHS spokesperson said: “People suffering from severe alopecia areata can experience hair loss that affects their health and quality of life, and this latest innovative treatment for patients – the first NHS treatment for the condition – could hugely benefit thousands of people. ”