ritlecitinib tosylate at a glance
Medicine class
Selective JAK3 and TEC-family kinase inhibitor; immunosuppressant.
Licensed use
Severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over.
Administration
Swallow the capsule whole, with or without food. Do not crush, split or chew it.
Specialist oversight
Treatment should be started and supervised by a clinician experienced in diagnosing and treating alopecia areata.
What is ritlecitinib tosylate used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Treating severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over.
How does ritlecitinib tosylate work?
Alopecia areata involves immune cells attacking hair follicles. Ritlecitinib irreversibly blocks JAK3 and TEC-family kinases, reducing immune signals and the activity of certain natural-killer and T cells involved in this process. This can allow hair growth to resume, although response varies.
ritlecitinib tosylate preparations and strengths
Capsule
Route: Oral
Strengths: 50 mg
How to take ritlecitinib tosylate
Use exactly as prescribed by the specialist team.
Swallow capsules whole with water.
They may be taken with or without food.
Do not crush, split, chew or open the capsules.
Keep the supplied patient safety card available and show it to healthcare professionals involved in your care.
ritlecitinib tosylate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea
- Headache or dizziness
- Acne
- Rash or hives
- Inflammation around hair follicles
- Shingles
- Raised creatine phosphokinase on a blood test
Get urgent medical advice
- Serious or opportunistic infection
- Blood clot in a leg or lung, heart attack or stroke symptoms
- Severe allergic reaction
- Unexplained neurological symptoms
- Important reductions in lymphocytes or platelets
- Possible liver injury shown by abnormal liver tests
ritlecitinib tosylate in pregnancy
The UK product information contraindicates ritlecitinib during pregnancy because human evidence is limited and animal studies found reproductive toxicity. Effective contraception is required during treatment and for the product-specified period after stopping. Anyone planning pregnancy or who becomes pregnant while taking it should contact their specialist promptly for review.
ritlecitinib tosylate while breastfeeding
Ritlecitinib is contraindicated while breastfeeding because transfer into human milk is unknown and a risk to the infant cannot be excluded. Discuss alternative treatment or feeding arrangements with the specialist team.
ritlecitinib tosylate interactions
Tell the specialist and pharmacist about all prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products. Important examples include:
Systemic immunosuppressants
Combined use is not recommended because additive suppression of the immune system and infection risk cannot be excluded.
CYP3A substrates with a narrow safety margin, including quinidine, ciclosporin, pimozide and ergot alkaloids
Ritlecitinib can increase exposure, potentially increasing serious adverse effects; review and adjustment of the interacting medicine may be needed.
Colchicine, everolimus, tacrolimus or sirolimus
Concentrations may rise; follow the interacting medicine's adjustment and monitoring guidance.
Common questions about ritlecitinib tosylate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is ritlecitinib tosylate a JAK inhibitor?
Yes. It is an immunosuppressant that selectively inhibits JAK3 and TEC-family kinases.
What type of hair loss does ritlecitinib tosylate treat?
Its UK licence covers severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over.
Can children take ritlecitinib tosylate?
It is licensed from age 12. Safety and effectiveness have not been established in children under 12.
Can ritlecitinib tosylate be taken with food?
Yes. Food is not required, but the capsule must be swallowed whole.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.