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Upadacitinib clinical trials for alopecia areata

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2026-08-19 21:28 UTC → 2026-08-20 22:29 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Two phase 3 clinical trials, UP-AA1 and UP-AA2, have demonstrated that the JAK inhibitor upadacitinib (brand name Rinvoq) shows significant promise in treating severe alopecia areata. The studies, published in JAMA Dermatology, involved approximately 1,400 adolescents and adults aged 12 to 64 with a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score of 50 or higher. At the 24-week mark, approximately 45% of patients on a 15 mg dose and between 54% and 55% of those on a 30 mg dose achieved 80% or greater scalp hair coverage, compared to only 1% to 3% in the placebo group. Long-term data at 52 weeks indicated continued improvement, with 55% to 64% of patients maintaining at least 80% scalp coverage and between 27% and 37% achieving complete hair regrowth. Upadacitinib functions by suppressing inflammatory pathways and interferon-gamma signaling that cause the immune system to attack hair follicles. Unlike traditional corticosteroid treatments that may require scalp injections, upadacitinib is administered orally. AbbVie has submitted a supplemental new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to seek approval for this use. While these results indicate substantial efficacy, upadacitinib is not yet approved for this specific condition; ~~an application is currently under review by the FDA. Currently,~~ currently, ritlecitinib remains the only approved therapy for adolescent patients with alopecia areata.

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