Opzelura in Chile: Is it available and how can patients access it?

Globally, vitiligo affects between 0.5% and 2% of people, with reported prevalence in Latin America ranging from 0.04% to 0.57% ¹. Despite its impact, vitiligo is often underdiagnosed, and even when diagnosed, treatment options can be difficult to access. This is partly due to the limited number of effective therapies and the fact that newer treatments aren’t widely available everywhere.

In Chile, only about 7% of patients report having access to the latest treatments, including JAK inhibitors like Opzelura (ruxolitinib) ². However, there are ways for patients to access new medicines before they become widely accessible locally. Here’s what to know about Opzelura in Chile and how you can get it safely and legally.

What is the new cream for vitiligo?

The latest approved treatment for vitiligo is Opzelura (ruxolitinib). It is a steroid-free topical cream for adults and children (12+) with nonsegmental vitiligo. Currently, it is the only FDA-approved therapy for skin repigmentation. Ruxolitinib cream is suitable for use on sensitive areas such as around the eyes, mouth, and genitals ³.​

How does ruxolitinib cream work for vitiligo?

Opzelura's active ingredient, ruxolitinib, blocks enzymes called JAK1 and JAK2. These enzymes help activate the immune system, which in vitiligo, mistakenly attacks pigment-producing cells (melanocytes). By blocking JAK1 and JAK2, ruxolitinib helps protect melanocytes, allowing them to restore skin color ⁴.

Is Opzelura safe for the face?

Yes, ruxolitinib cream is intended for use anywhere on the body, including sensitive areas such as the face, the area around the eyes, your mouth, and genitals ³. In clinical trials, Opzelura was mainly tested on the face.

Does Opzelura thin the skin?

No. According to clinical results, Opzelura does not cause skin atrophy, skin thinning, burning, or stinging - some of the side effects associated with topical corticosteroids ⁵.

How effective is Opzelura?

According to clinical trial results:

• Within 6 months, 30% of patients saw a 75% improvement in their face pigmentation. 15% of patients saw a 90% improvement. As a comparison, around 2% of patients in the placebo group achieved the same results.
• Within 12 months, 51% of patients saw a 75% improvement in their face pigmentation;
• Within 24 months, 66% of patients saw a 75% improvement in their face pigmentation ⁶.

Is Opzelura (ruxolitinib) available in Chile?

Not as of March 2025. Unfortunately, only about 25% of novel medicines become available in Chile, and when they do - it can take years before they're accessible to Chilean patients ⁷.

However, if your doctor prescribes Opzelura (ruxolitinib), you can get it immediately. This is allowed under a regulation called Named Patient Import. It makes it possible for patients anywhere to buy a medicine for personal use from abroad if it's not available in their country and no suitable alternative exists.

Where can you buy ruxolitinib in Chile?

While you cannot buy ruxolitinib in pharmacies in Chile yet, you can request the medicine via Everyone.org. We're specialized in helping patients access medicines that aren't available in their countries, and we'd be happy to support you, too. Note that we can only help if you have a prescription for Opzelura. To get started, simply request the medicine below.

Request Opzelura