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NICE Approves Ruxolitinib Cream for Vitiligo Treatment
NICE, the UK’s health regulator, has approved ruxolitinib cream as an effective treatment for vitiligo. Vitiligo is a condition that causes patchy skin due to a lack of melanin in the body. The disease, which affects around half a million people in the UK, causes white areas to develop on the body, and until now, has been considered untreatable. However, ruxolitinib, a medicine normally used to treat cancer, has been found to reverse the effects of vitiligo.
Ruxolitinib is a twice-daily cream that has been shown in studies to return skin color to its natural pigment within six months. While the cream is currently available in the US, it has now been deemed safe and effective by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the UK. This means that patients over the age of 12 can purchase it through a private clinician and opens up the possibility of the NHS offering it.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will meet in January to decide whether the NHS will cover the cost of ruxolitinib cream for vitiligo patients. Campaigners have urged NICE to fund the treatment, as it is currently prohibitively expensive, with a 60g tube costing around £1,000 on a private prescription.
Vitiligo usually develops at a young age and can affect any skin tone. Patients may notice white spots on their bodies, which can appear anywhere and range from small patches to large areas. While the root cause is unknown, there is a higher likelihood of developing vitiligo if there is a family history of the condition or other autoimmune problems.
Patients with vitiligo often rely on makeup to hide their patches, and many experience feelings of self-consciousness and even depression as a result. Existing steroid creams have shown limited effectiveness at restoring skin color.
Ruxolitinib, originally designed to treat bone marrow cancer, has been found to suppress the immune system and stop the loss of skin color caused by vitiligo when used in cream form.
One vitiligo patient from Minnesota, Alicia Roufs, began using ruxolitinib cream last September and noticed remarkable results within a month. She saw color returning to her face, and within six months, her skin’s color had completely changed. While the treatment is not a cure, patients must continue using the cream to maintain the results.
Alicia hopes that ruxolitinib cream will be made available to all vitiligo patients in the UK through the NHS, as it has been a game-changer for her and many others. The treatment offers hope for reversing the condition on visible parts of the body.
In conclusion, NICE’s approval of ruxolitinib cream as a treatment for vitiligo offers new possibilities for patients struggling with this condition. The cream has shown promising results in returning natural pigmentation to the skin, and its availability through the NHS could have a significant impact on the lives of those affected by vitiligo.
