A drug commonly used to treat arthritis has shown promising results in people suffering from severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes significant hair loss. Researchers found that upadacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, helped many patients regain substantial amounts of scalp hair.
The findings come from two large Phase 3 clinical trials involving 1,399 people aged 12 to 64, all of whom had lost at least half of their scalp hair. Participants received either 15 mg or 30 mg of upadacitinib or a placebo.
After 24 weeks, up to 55% of participants receiving the treatment had regained at least 80% of their scalp hair, according to the study report. The drug works by targeting the JAK/STAT pathway involved in the immune response that attacks hair follicles in alopecia areata.
Researchers said the results could provide another treatment option for people with severe alopecia areata, including adolescents. However, the medication is an immune-modulating drug and should only be considered under medical supervision; the findings do not mean that it is a general treatment for all types of hair loss
