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Arthritis Drug Grows Hair in Alopecia Trial
8 Sep
Summary
- Arthritis drug upadacitinib shows promise for severe alopecia.
- Trials involved 1,399 participants, including 118 teenagers.
- Significant hair regrowth observed within 24 weeks of treatment.
A medicine developed for arthritis is showing significant promise in treating severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition causing extensive hair loss. Upadacitinib, an anti-inflammatory drug, was tested in two major Phase 3 clinical trials involving 1,399 participants.
The trials included 118 teenagers, all of whom had lost at least half of their scalp hair. Participants received either a placebo or daily doses of upadacitinib for 24 weeks.
Results indicated that 44.6% to 55% of participants taking upadacitinib achieved substantial hair regrowth, measured by the SALT score. This is a stark contrast to the 1.5% to 3.4% who saw improvement with a placebo.
Benefits of upadacitinib became apparent around eight weeks into the treatment. Some individuals experienced complete scalp hair regrowth, with percentages ranging from 13% to 22.5% depending on the dosage and trial.
The drug functions by inhibiting immune signals that target hair follicles. Beyond hair regrowth, patients reported enhanced quality of life. Short-term safety data was encouraging, with few serious side effects reported.
However, the trials lasted only 24 weeks, meaning long-term effects and safety for alopecia areata patients are still under investigation. The study's funding and co-design by the drug manufacturer, AbbVie, also warrant consideration, though the study was independently peer-reviewed.
Further research is necessary to compare upadacitinib with existing treatments. Nevertheless, the speed and extent of hair regrowth suggest upadacitinib could become a valuable therapeutic option for severe alopecia areata.
