A common medication used to treat arthritis has demonstrated a notable ability to stimulate hair regrowth in people suffering from severe alopecia areata, according to recent research. The drug, upadacitinib, marketed as Rinvoq, works by targeting the Janus kinase (JAK) pathway, which plays a role in inflammation and autoimmune responses.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition affecting approximately 7 million people in the U.S., characterized by the immune system attacking hair follicles, leading to hair loss in circular patches. The condition often appears in childhood and can have a significant psychosocial impact. Currently, there is limited FDA-approved treatment for severe cases, and not all patients respond to existing therapies.
Researchers investigated the efficacy of upadacitinib in individuals who had lost at least half of the hair on their scalp, as these severe cases are typically less responsive to treatment. The study aimed to determine if the drug's anti-inflammatory properties could counteract the autoimmune attack on hair follicles.
Results from the trial indicated promising outcomes. After six months of treatment, 45% of participants receiving a lower dose (15 milligrams) and 55% of those on a higher dose (30 milligrams) achieved significant hair regrowth, defined as covering at least 80% of their scalp. These figures compare favorably to existing treatments for alopecia areata, such as baricitinib (Olumiant), which has shown efficacy in 35-40% of patients, and rilecitinib (Litfulo) and deuruoxolitinib (Leqselvi), with success rates of 23% and 31%, respectively.
Furthermore, a substantial portion of participants in the upadacitinib trial exceeded the 80% scalp coverage benchmark. Over 35% on the lower dose and 46% on the higher dose saw at least 90% scalp coverage. Complete regrowth across the entire scalp was observed in about 13% of patients on the low dose and 23% on the high dose.
The study also noted positive effects on other areas affected by hair loss, such as eyebrows and eyelashes. At the higher dosage of upadacitinib, most participants experienced regrowth in these areas.
While upadacitinib is approved for certain autoimmune conditions like arthritis, its use for alopecia areata is currently considered off-label in the United States. However, the drug recently received approval for alopecia areata treatment in the European Union. AbbVie, the manufacturer of Rinvoq, is seeking FDA approval for this indication. Roopal Thakkar, M.D., executive vice president, research and development, and chief scientific officer at AbbVie, stated that this approval provides an additional option for patients dealing with the physical and mental burden of severe alopecia areata, a condition often exacerbated by stigma.