Beneath the Surface: Investigating dupilumab’s use in pediatric alopecia areata treatment

Beneath the Surface is a video series in which Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Healio cDermatology Chief Medical Editor, discusses hot topics in the field with leading experts.

In this edition, Gelfand, who is also the James J. Leyden Professor of Clinical Investigation and professor of dermatology and epidemiology at University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, and Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, Waldman Professor and System Chair of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology and director of the Center of Excellence in Eczema and the Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discuss ongoing research regarding the use of dupilumab as a treatment for alopecia areata, especially in children.

Guttman-Yassky received a grant from the NIH to investigate the interleukin-4 and IL-13 inhibitor in pediatric patients with alopecia areata.

“It’s exciting because [Janus kinase inhibitors] are great for alopecia areata, but in children particularly we need to think about medicines that we can give potentially for life,” she said.

Reference:

• Mount Sinai awarded $6.6 million from National Institutes of Health to investigate treatment for alopecia areata in children. https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2024/mount-sinai-awarded-6-6-million-from-national-institutes-of-health-to-investigate-treatment-for-alopecia-areata-in-children. Published May 16, 2024. Accessed Dec. 4, 2024.