Tirzepatide for Treatment of CCCA (NCT07734870) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingPhase 2
Tirzepatide for Treatment of CCCA
United States20 participantsStarted 2026-09-15
Plain-language summary
The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn if tirzepatide can treat active central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), a type of permanent scarring hair loss, in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does tirzepatide improve the symptoms and signs of active CCCA?
* Does tirzepatide change the activity of genes in the scalp, especially genes related to scarring?
* Does tirzepatide promote hair regrowth?
Participants will:
* Inject tirzepatide once a week for 12 months.
* Visit the clinic for scalp examinations, photographs, and other health assessments.
* Have scalp biopsies at the beginning of the study and after 6 months of treatment.
* Have blood tests and other safety monitoring during the study.
There is no separate comparison group. Researchers will compare each participant's results during treatment with the participant's results at the beginning of the study.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* 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 Criteria:
* 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.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia Clinical Activity Tool Score