*Two large clinical trials found significant hair regrowth among patients taking a medication normally used for rheumatoid arthritis. The drug could offer a new option for people with severe alopecia areata.
According to Medical Express, the Phase III trials included 1,399 adolescents and adults with severe alopecia areata. Participants had lost at least half of their scalp hair and were randomly assigned to receive either 15 mg of upadacitinib daily, 30 mg daily, or a placebo.
After 24 weeks, nearly half of the patients taking 15 mg had regained enough hair to cover at least 80% of their scalp. The result was even stronger among those receiving 30 mg, with more than 54% reaching that threshold. Only about 2% of the placebo group achieved comparable regrowth.
Patients on the medication also achieved deep hair regrowth. More than 35% of those taking the 15 mg dose and about 46% on the 30 mg dose reached at least 90% scalp coverage. Between 13% and 23% achieved complete scalp regrowth, compared with almost none of those given the placebo.
Scroll to continue reading
Upadacitinib also helped restore eyebrow and eyelash hair, with more than half of patients in the 30 mg group experiencing significant regrowth in those areas.
The drug works by blocking Janus kinase, or JAK, enzymes involved in immune-system signaling. Alopecia areata occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing hair loss.
The trials, known as UP-AA1 and UP-AA2, were conducted at hundreds of clinical centers across dozens of countries. Improvements appeared as early as eight weeks into treatment. Acne, colds, throat discomfort, and upper respiratory tract infections ranked among the most frequent side effects.
The findings, published in JAMA Dermatology, suggest upadacitinib could become a promising treatment for people with severe alopecia areata.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Stanford Researchers Regrow Cartilage in Mice, Raising Hope for Osteoarthritis Treatment
We Publish Breaking News 24/7. Don’t Miss Out! Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.
