Arthritis drug successfully treats severe hair loss

A drug originally developed to treat arthritis has shown promising results in treating severe cases of alopecia areata, a condition characterized by circular hair loss. According to findings from two large clinical trials, the medication helped approximately half of participants regrow a significant portion of their hair. Dr. Keith Kantor, clinical director of the Regen Therapeutics Hair Restoration Clinic, told Newsweek that these results are encouraging, especially because they come from two large, randomized phase-three studies involving nearly 1400 adults and adolescents. After 24 weeks, around 45 percent of patients taking a 15-mg dose and between 54 and 55 percent of those on a 30-mg dose achieved 80 percent or more hair coverage on their scalp. In contrast, only 1 to 3 percent of patients in the placebo group reached this level of regrowth. The studies, published in the journal JAMA Dermatology, tested upadacitinib, known also as Rinvoq, an oral medication already approved for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. It was tested on patients aged 12 to 64 with severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease causing hair loss without scarring, sometimes affecting the entire scalp, face, and body. The trials were conducted from October 2023 to July 2025 across more than 237 clinical centers worldwide. Participants were randomly divided into groups receiving either 15 mg or 30 mg of upadacitinib daily for 24 weeks or a placebo. All participants had lost at least half of their scalp hair at the start of the study, with an average initial hair loss of nearly 84 percent. By week 24, between 44.6 and 45.2 percent of patients on the lower dose and 54.3 to 55 percent on the higher dose regained at least 80 percent of their scalp hair. Among those who received the placebo, this threshold was reached by between 1.5 and 3.4 percent of patients. Alopecia areata is not a common or hereditary form of hair loss, explained Kantor. It is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles. Upadacitinib belongs to the class of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which block immune pathways associated with the disease. The trials also showed improvements in the regrowth of eyebrows and eyelashes, along with better quality-of-life measurements. Some patients even achieved complete recovery of scalp hair. Despite the optimistic reports, Kantor cautioned against overestimating the results. About half of the patients achieved the primary goal of hair growth after 24 weeks, which is excellent compared to the placebo, but it also means a significant number did not. Long-term data on how long the results last, what happens after treatment discontinuation, and long-term safety are needed. Common side effects, recorded in more than 5 percent of patients in any group, included upper respiratory tract infections, acne, elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase, and inflammation of the nose and throat, known as rhinitis. Serious adverse effects were noted in 1.6 percent of patients on the lower dose, 2.3 percent on the higher dose, and 0.4 percent on the placebo. Researchers stated no new safety risks were identified. Safety is a key concern, Kantor emphasized, noting that upadacitinib is a systemic immunomodulating drug available by prescription. Patients require appropriate medical evaluation and monitoring, and potential benefits must be carefully weighed against known risks. According to Kantor, these results reflect a broader shift in the approach to treating alopecia. For years, individuals with severe alopecia areata had limited and often unpredictable options. Now, therapies targeting the underlying immune process offer new hope for patients and doctors, while maintaining awareness that no treatment will be universally effective.