- A new cream, Ruxolitinib (sold as Opzelura), has been approved for NHS use in England, becoming the first licensed treatment for vitiligo.
- The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended the cream for patients aged 12 and over with non-segmental vitiligo affecting the face, especially when other topical treatments have failed.
- Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition where the immune system attacks pigment-producing cells, causing white patches and affects approximately one in 100 people in the UK.
- Ruxolitinib works by calming the immune system's attack, allowing skin cells to repair and regain their natural colour, with trials showing it was four times more effective than a placebo for facial skin restoration.
- Experts and patient advocates have welcomed the approval as a “historic milestone,” recognising its significant psychological and social impact and offering renewed optimism for those living with the condition.
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