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Tirzepatide for Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA)

This study is testing if a medication called tirzepatide can help adults with active Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), a type of permanent hair loss that causes scarring. Researchers want to see if tirzepatide improves the signs and symptoms of CCCA, changes how genes in the scalp behave (especially those linked to scarring), and helps hair regrow. You might be able to join if you are 18-80 years old, have a confirmed diagnosis of active CCCA, and haven't received CCCA treatment in the last 6 weeks. Participants will inject tirzepatide once a week for 12 months. The study will measure changes in your CCCA symptoms and scalp gene activity over 3 and 6 months. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional pilot study with 20 participants. There is no separate comparison group.
What's involved
You would inject tirzepatide once a week for 12 months. You will have clinic visits for exams, photos, and other health checks, including scalp biopsies at the start and after 6 months, and blood tests for safety.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study measures changes in CCCA symptoms at 3 and 6 months, and scalp gene expression at 6 months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07734870

Tirzepatide for Treatment of CCCA

Not Yet Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18–80InterventionalTreatment
Johns Hopkins University
~20 participants
Updated 2026-07-29 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Tirzepatide

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia Clinical Activity Tool Score
Measured over Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA)

Explore related trials

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia

Where it's being run

2 sites across 1 states
Maryland2

Study leadership

  • Crystal U Aguh, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · The Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology

Who to contact

Dakarai A Dunbar, BS
[email protected]
4435976380
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 18 to 80 years.
Clinical and/or biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA).
Active CCCA, defined as a C-CAT disease activity score greater than 1.
No treatment for CCCA during the 6 weeks before enrollment.
Able and willing to complete the study and follow all study procedures.
Managed by a Johns Hopkins dermatologist throughout the study.

Exclusion

Currently taking an oral or systemic blood glucose-lowering medication.
Currently taking another medication for weight loss.
Hemoglobin A1C below 5.4%.
Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) score below 2.
Body mass index below 19 kg/m².
Pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer.
Personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
History of chronic kidney disease.
History of pancreatitis.
History of diabetic retinopathy.
Severe gastrointestinal disease.
Recent or planned major surgery.
Type 1 diabetes.
Any other contraindication to tirzepatide.
History of keloids or hypertrophic scarring.
History of poor wound healing.
History of a blood-clotting disorder.
Allergy to lidocaine or epinephrine.
Known sensitivity to local numbing medication.
Any significant medical condition that the investigator believes would make participation unsafe or prevent completion of the study.

What this trial measures

  • Change in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia Clinical Activity Tool ScoreBaseline, 3 months, 6 months

    Disease activity will be measured using the Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia Clinical Activity Tool (C-CAT). The C-CAT assesses disease progression, scalp pain or tenderness, scalp itching, inflammation, and scalp fibrosis. Total scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater disease activity. Scores obtained during treatment will be compared with the baseline score.

  • Change in Scalp Gene-Expression ProfilesBaseline, 6 months

    Differential messenger RNA expression will be assessed using bulk RNA sequencing of paired scalp biopsies collected at baseline and 6 months of tirzepatide treatment. Differential expression will be defined as at least a two-fold change with an adjusted p-value less than 0.05. Analyses will focus on profibrotic and inflammatory pathways, including transforming growth factor beta, collagens 1, 3, and 6A1, and T-helper 17-related pathways.