Vitiligo causes patches of skin to lose pigment, leaving white or light-colored areas that can appear anywhere on the body. About 1 in 100 people develop vitiligo, often before age 30. Until recently, treatment options were limited to steroids and light therapy, but new drugs targeting the immune system are changing what's possible.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing JAK inhibitors that can restore pigment by blocking immune signals that destroy melanocytes, the pigment-making cells. Ruxolitinib cream received FDA approval in 2022 for facial vitiligo. Other studies are testing oral JAK inhibitors for widespread vitiligo, combination therapies with light treatment, and drugs that protect melanocytes from immune attack.
JAK inhibitors
These drugs block immune signals driving vitiligo. Ruxolitinib cream showed meaningful repigmentation in facial vitiligo, and trials are testing whether oral JAK inhibitors work for vitiligo covering larger areas of the body.
Combination approaches
Studies are pairing JAK inhibitors with narrowband UVB light therapy to see if the combination restores pigment better than either treatment alone. Early results suggest combination therapy may produce faster and more complete repigmentation.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on how much skin is affected, location of patches, skin type, disease stability, and whether you've tried prior treatments.
What types of trials are currently open
- Drug trials — Testing JAK inhibitors and other immune-modulating drugs, either as creams for localized vitiligo or pills for widespread disease.
- Combination trials — Testing new drugs paired with light therapy to see if combining treatments produces better repigmentation.
- Device trials — Testing targeted light therapy devices and newer laser approaches for restoring pigment.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether treatment can prevent vitiligo from spreading to new areas of skin.
- Quality of life studies — Following people with vitiligo to understand the condition's impact and what factors predict treatment response.
Recently added Vitiligo trials
Evaluation of Crisaborole 2% Versus Tacrolimus 0.1% Each Combined With Excimer Light in the Treatment of Stable Non-segmental Facial Vitiligo: a Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if topical application of crisaborole 2% ointment can treat stable patches of facial vitiligo in pediatrics and adult patients of both genders. It will also learn about the safety of crisaborole 2% ointment. The main questions it aims to answer is: * Does crisaborole 2% ointment work effectively in stable localized facial vitiligo in pediatrics and adults? * is crisaborole 2% ointment well tolerated in stable localized facial vitiligo in pediatrics and adults? * Is crisaborole 2% ointment comparable to tacrolimus 0.1% ointment in terms of efficacy and safety in stable localized facial vitiligo in pediatrics and adults? Researchers will compare crisaborole 2% ointment to tacrolimus 0.1% ointment to see if crisaborole works as effective and is as well-tolerated. Participants will: * apply topical crisaborole 2% ointment or tacrolimus 0.1% ointment twice daily for 6 months (or until complete repigmentation, whichever earlier) to patches of stable facial vitiligo. * Visit the clinic twice every week for Excimer light sessions, checkups, and photography. * Keep a diary of their symptoms.
Take an immune therapy infusion to treat vitiligo
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EB06 intravenous infusion (loading dose of 20mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 10mg/kg) compared with placebo in adults with moderate to severe non-segmental vitiligo.. Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder characterized by the loss of skin pigmentation due to the destruction of melanocytes. EB06 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds and neutralizes CXCL10, a chemokine implicated in the trafficking of anti-melanocytic T-cells to the epidermis and in inducing cell death. Elevated levels of CXCL10 have been associated with both the initiation of the disease and the maintenance of vitiligo lesions. The study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of EB06 in adults with moderate to severe non-segmental vitiligo.
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