What the trial was testing
The BRAVE-AA1 enrolled 1,200 patients with alopecia areata. The study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
35% had near-full scalp regrowth after 36 weeks on the higher dose.
New England Journal of Medicine · 2022 · NCT03899259
These findings — that had near-full scalp hair regrowth at 36 weeks on the higher baricitinib dose — were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 1,200 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with alopecia areata, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Baricitinib (Olumiant) is FDA-approved for severe alopecia areata in adults and available now. It can take several months to see meaningful regrowth, and hair often falls out again if the medication is stopped. Side effects include increased risk of infections and lab changes; regular monitoring is required. Ask a dermatologist whether it fits your case.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open alopecia areata trials
1470nm Laser for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia and Scarring Alopecia
Single-center, open-label, baseline-controlled, pilot study evaluating the use of a Nonablative 1470 nm laser for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and scarring alopecia.
Scalp Cooling in MBC
This research is being done to compare rates of hair loss of people with metastatic breast who use scalp cooling versus those who do not use scalp cooling after receiving standard of care treatment with either sacituzumab govitecan, trastuzumab deruxtecan, or eribulin. The name of the study intervention involved in this study is: * Paxman Scalp Cooling System