Vitiligo: a promising new treatment to repigment the skin soon available? : Current Woman Le MAG

Vitiligo is a skin disease which affects 0.5% to 1% of the world population, according to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). People who suffer from it present a “progressive depigmentation of the skin“, which is explained by the “loss of melanocytes that normally synthesize melanin“. But a new treatment has just been validated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Vitiligo: what is this new treatment that could cure the disease?

Called “Opzelura” (ruxolitinib), it comes in the form of a cream and was developed by the pharmaceutical company Incyte, as well as by several specialists from the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Nice, including Professor Thierry Passeron. “Clinical trials […] demonstrated total repigmentation on the face in approximately a third of patients, after one year of treatment.assures the dermatologist in the columns of Nice morning. The results of these tests were published in review The New England Journal of Medicine.

More than 600 people with vitiligo were recruited. “Application of ruxolitinib cream resulted in greater repigmentation of lesions of vitiligo“, specify the researchers. However, not all participants obtained the same results. “And above all, certain areas, notably the hands and feet, are less well repigmented than others. It is on the face that the effects are most significant.“, adds Professor Thierry Passeron, still with our colleagues at Nice morning.

Vitiligo: specialists hope to market the treatment by 2023

“Repigmentation is a long phenomenon“, however, warns Inserm. In addition, the results of clinical trials indicate that the treatment would have been associated”acne and itching at the application site“.”Larger and longer trials are needed to determine the effect and safety of ruxolitinib cream in patients with vitiligo“, insist the researchers.

Despite this, Opzelura represents a major scientific advance, but above all a glimmer of hope for people who suffer from this disease. In an interview given to the media 20 minutesProfessor Thierry Passeron hopes to be able to market this cream by the end of 2023, with “reimbursement by Health Insurance the following months“.

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