Bempikibart shows positive phase 2a results in severe alopecia areata

Bempikibart, a fully human anti-IL-7Rα antibody, demonstrated a 35.3 percent reduction in mean SALT scores at week 36 in a Phase 2a trial, offering clinicians a promising alternative for severe alopecia areata patients who have failed JAK inhibitors.

The Part B portion of the SIGNAL-AA trial evaluated 33 patients with severe or very severe alopecia areata, characterized by baseline SALT scores between 50 and 100. Over a 36-week period, patients received a subcutaneous loading dose of 200 mg weekly for four doses, followed by a maintenance dose of 200 mg every other week. Notably, 36.4 percent of these patients had previously failed oral JAK inhibitor therapy. At week 36, 44 percent of patients in the modified intent-to-treat analysis achieved both SALT30 and SALT50 responses, while 40 percent achieved a SALT-20 response. Safety data showed a favorable profile with no serious or grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events, and only mild, self-limited injection-site reactions in 36.3 percent of participants.

For medical-aesthetic clinics treating hair loss, this subcutaneous biologic is positioned to provide an effective option for patients seeking alternatives to daily oral JAK inhibitors. Clinicians should monitor its progress, as the registration-directed program is planned to advance in the first half of 2027.

Source: Dermatology Times, https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/bempikibart-shows-positive-phase-2a-results-in-alopecia-areata