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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Expert Opin Drug Discov. 2015 Feb 9;10(3):269–292. doi: 10.1517/17460441.2015.1009892

Table 2.

Approved/investigational drug therapies for alopecia areata or alopecia universalis.

Drug (Trade name) Structure M, F, Both, animal Class/route Mechanism Ref
Hydrocortisone (Cortizone) graphic file with name nihms664405t17.jpg Both; approved Corticosteroid; topical; intradermal injection, oral Anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive [155]
Clobetasol propionate (Temovate) graphic file with name nihms664405t18.jpg Both; clinical trial ‘Strong’ corticosteroid; topical; intradermal injection Anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive [155]
Dinitrochlorobenzene graphic file with name nihms664405t19.jpg Both Local irritant; topical Triggering sensitization counteracting autoreactive T cells [110]
Squaric acid dibutylester graphic file with name nihms664405t20.jpg Both Local irritant; topical Triggering sensitization counteracting autoreactive T cells [156]
Diphenylcyclopropenone (Diphencyprone) graphic file with name nihms664405t21.jpg Both Local irritant; topical Triggering sensitization counteracting autoreactive T cells [157]
8-Methoxypsoralen and UVA (PUVA) graphic file with name nihms664405t22.jpg Both Photochemotherapy, drug-light combination; topical Kills autoreactive T cells; induces tolerogenic dendritic cells [158]
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) graphic file with name nihms664405t23.jpg Both; clinical trial Developed as antibiotic; oral Anti-inflammatory immunomodulator [159]
Adalimumab (Humira) F; case report Recombinant human IgG1 MoAb against TNFα; s.c. injection Anti-inflammatory; inhibits T cells [160]
Alefacept (Amevive) F; case report 1-92-LFA-3 (human) fusion protein with Ig G1 Inhibits T cells [161]
Ruxolitinib (Jakavi) graphic file with name nihms664405t24.jpg Case reports, mice JAK inhibitor; topical, systemic Affects downstream signaling of IFN-γ; and GC cytokine receptors [101]
Tofacitinib (Jakvinus) graphic file with name nihms664405t25.jpg Mice JAK inhibitor; topical, systemic Affects downstream signaling of IFN-γ and GC cytokine receptors [101]