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Taking people in United StatesPhase 2

Ruxolitinib for hair regrowth in alopecia areata linked to APECED

Tests ruxolitinib for hair loss in people with APECED and alopecia areata.

Key facts

Who runs it
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Where
Bethesda, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ruxolitinib on Hair Regrowth in Patients With Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy Candidiasis Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED)-Associated Alopecia Areata
Status
Recruiting
Phase
Phase 2
People taking part
70 people, planned
Started
18 Jan 2023
Expected to end
1 Dec 2027
Type of study
Interventional
Treatments tested
  • Ruxolitinib
Record updated
6 November 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for people with APECED who also have severe alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), to test ruxolitinib pills. Adult family members or household contacts who live with a participant can also join.

Age
Patients: 12 to 75 years. Family members or household contacts: 18 years or older.
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
APECED (genetic or clinical diagnosis) with severe alopecia areata, meaning >=50% total scalp hair loss on the SALT score. Hair loss for more than 6 months, with no sign of regrowth now.
Earlier treatment
Patients must be new to alopecia areata treatment or not helped by other treatments. No alopecia treatment in the past 2 months. No systemic drugs that suppress or change the immune system in the 3 months before screening, except steroids up to 10 mg of prednisone equivalent per day.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Allergy to ruxolitinib or other JAK inhibitors, or another scalp skin disease such as psoriasis.
  • HIV infection, untreated hepatitis B or C, or untreated latent tuberculosis.
  • Past blood clots, stroke, heart attack or heart failure.
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Serious abnormal blood tests, such as hemoglobin <=9.0 g/dL or platelet count <=100,000/microliter.

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 42 criteriaShow less

Who cannot take part

  • Treated within the last 2 months with intralesional steroids, systemic steroids, anthralin, squaric acid, diphenylcyclopropenone, tacrolimus, minoxidil, or other medication that, in the opinion of the investigator, may affect hair regrowth
  • Current or recent use of any investigational drug (within 3 months or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to screening)
  • Scheduled to participate in another clinical study involving an investigational drug during the course of this study
  • Use of systemic immunosuppressive or immune-modulating agents within 3 months prior to screening, except systemic steroids 10 mg of prednisone equivalent per day
  • Current use of systemic steroids with daily dose >10 mg of prednisone equivalent for any reason or steroid burst for >3 days within 1 month of screening
  • History of alcohol or drug abuse within 6 months prior to screening
  • Planned or anticipated major surgical procedure during the study
  • Plans to receive any live vaccines within 1 month of the anticipated first dose of ruxolitinib
  • History of serious bacterial infection within the last 3 months prior to screening, unless treated and resolved with antibiotics, or any chronic bacterial infection (eg, chronic pyelonephritis, osteomyelitis)
  • History of herpes zoster or cytomegalovirus infection that resolved within 2 months prior to screening
  • History of basal cell carcinoma, localized squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or in situ carcinoma of the cervix, unless the participant is in remission and curative therapy was completed at least 12 months prior to screening
  • Planned or anticipated use of any prohibited medications and procedures during the study
  • Known history of hypersensitivity to ruxolitinib or other JAK inhibitors
  • History of or active skin disease on the scalp other than AA, such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis
  • Known or suspected immunodeficiency disorder besides APECED
  • History of untreated invasive opportunistic infections (eg, tuberculosis, non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections, histoplasmosis, listeriosis, coccidioidomycosis, pneumocystis pneumonia, aspergillosis) despite infection resolution or otherwise recurrent infections of; abnormal frequency or prolonged infections suggesting an immune-compromised status as judged by the investigator
  • Untreated latent tuberculosis infection
  • Infection with HIV
  • Untreated infection with hepatitis B or C
  • History of unprovoked DVT, PE, arterial thrombosis, or other thrombotic events
  • History of stroke, heart attack, or heart failure
  • History of other malignancies, unless the participant is in remission and curative therapy was completed at least 5 years prior to screening
  • Presence of one or more of the following clinically significant laboratory abnormalities:; Serum ALT>=3 times upper limit of normal (ULN); Serum total bilirubin >=2 times ULN; ANC<=1000 cells/microliter; Hemoglobin <=9.0 g/dL; Platelet count <=100,000/microliter; Serum creatinine >=2 times ULN
  • Past or current medical problems or findings from physical examination, EKG, or laboratory testing that are not listed above, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may pose additional risks from participation in the study, may interfere with the participant s ability to comply with study requirements or that may impact the quality or interpretation of the data obtained from the study; There are no exclusion criteria for family members or household contacts
  • For participants with APECED-associated AA:
  • Diagnosis of AA is in question or the pattern of hair loss is such that quantification of hair loss and assessment of regrowth is difficult, eg, patients with androgenic alopecia
  • Current pregnancy or breastfeeding

Other criteria

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:; For participants with APECED-associated AA:
  • Participant must be able to understand and provide informed consent
  • Aged >=12 to <=75 years
  • Patients with APECED (genetic or clinical diagnosis) and severe AA (defined as having >=50% total scalp loss at screening per the SALT score)
  • Duration of hair loss greater than 6 months
  • No present evidence of hair regrowth
  • Is na(SqrRoot) ve or unresponsive to other treatments for AA
  • No treatment for alopecia in the past 2 months prior to study enrollment
  • Willingness to use valacyclovir prophylaxis for the prevention of herpes viral reactivation
  • Vaccinations should be up to date in agreement with current CDC immunization guidelines prior to start of ruxolitinib
  • Proficient in written English
  • Participants who can get pregnant or impregnate their partner must agree to use at least one highly effective method of contraception when engaging in sexual activities that can result in pregnancy, starting at screening until 12 weeks after the last dose. Highly effective contraceptive measures include:; Stable use of combined (estrogen- and progestogen-containing) hormonal contraception (oral, intravaginal, transdermal) or progestogen-only hormonal contraception (oral, injectable, implantable) starting 1 month prior to screening; Intrauterine device; intrauterine hormone-releasing system; Two barrier methods (eg, condom with spermicide, diaphragm with spermicide, or cervical cap and spermicide). Internal and external condoms may not be used together; Bilateral tubal ligation; Periodic abstinence (calendar, symptothermal, and post-ovulation methods), withdrawal (coitus interruptus), spermicides only, and lactational amenorrhea method are not acceptable methods of contraception; For family members or household contacts:
  • Aged >=18 years
  • Lives with the participant
  • Proficient in written English

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

  • Are you between 12 and 75 years old?

Where in United States

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, United StatesContact: Michail S Lionakis, M.D.Taking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Background:

Read full original descriptionShow less

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a problem of the immune system. In people with APECED, the immune system makes a mistake and attacks the body. Some people with APECED have a type of hair loss called alopecia areata (AA). No drugs are approved to treat AA.

Objective:

To see if a study drug (ruxolitinib) can help hair regrowth in people with APECED-associated AA and if it can improve other symptoms caused by the immune system s attack to the body.

Eligibility:

People aged 12 to 65 years with APECED and severe AA.

Design:

Participants will be in this study for up to 10 months. They will have 5 in-person visits and 6 televisits, each about 4 weeks apart. One in-person visit may be up to a 10-day stay in the hospital.

The first in-person visit will include screening. Participants will have a physical exam. They will have blood tests. Photographs may be taken of their skin. They will answer questions about their quality of life.

Participants will begin taking the study drug during their hospital stay. They will take the pills by mouth twice a day for 8 months. Researchers may take tissue samples from participants scalp, gums, and lower lip. Participants may provide samples of urine, stool, nail clippings, and saliva. They may have an eye exam and an ultrasound exam of their abdomen.

Some tests may be repeated in subsequent in-person visits.

In telehealth visits, participants will answer questions about how they are feeling. They will describe and send photos of hair regrowth. They will be asked to have blood drawn and the results sent to the researchers.

The group in the trial

  • Ruxolitinib/APECED-AA PatientsTreatment being tested

    All participants receiving IP through this protocol (APECED-AA patients)will receive ruxolitinib.

    Treatment: Ruxolitinib

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
A Phase 2 Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ruxolitinib on Hair Regrowth in Patients With Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy Candidiasis Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED)-Associated Alopecia Areata
Plain-language title
Ruxolitinib for hair regrowth in alopecia areata linked to APECEDGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Fit questions
Built from NCT05398809, who can take part
Record updated
6 November 2026