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- Researchers report that the drug upadacitinib, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, effectively treated the hair loss condition alopecia areata in two clinical trials.
- The medication, sold under the brand name Rinvoq, is a JAK inhibitor that can help block the immune system response responsible for alopecia areata.
- There are other JAK inhibitor medications currently available for hair loss, but experts say that upadacitinib could provide those with alopecia with another treatment option.
A commonly used medication to treat rheumatoid arthritis may help people with a serious hair loss condition, according to a new study.
Researchers report that the medication upadacitinib, sold under the brand name Rinvoq, was effective in two phase 3 clinical trials in helping people regain some of their hair.
The participants were diagnosed with serious forms of alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss that can affect the scalp and other areas of the body.
There is no cure for alopecia areata, but various treatments, such as topical medications, injections, and laser therapy, can help stimulate hair regrowth or slow hair loss.
In their new study, the researchers said about half of the people who took both a lower and higher dose of upadacitinib grew back enough hair to cover at least 80% of their scalp.
Only about 2% of people who were given a placebo achieved that degree of regrowth.
The researchers published their findings on August 12 in JAMA Dermatology.
Spencer Kobren, the founder of the American Hair Loss Association, said the research provides some good news for people with alopecia areata. Kobren wasn’t involved in the study.
“I think the results are very encouraging,” he told Healthline. “If upadacitinib ultimately becomes another treatment option for alopecia areata, having another effective drug available to patients is certainly a good thing.”
How arthritis medication may help with hair loss
Researchers noted that alopecia areata is linked to the immune system.
So, they set out to see whether upadacitinib, a class of medications called JAK inhibitors, could help by blocking proteins called Janus kinases that play a key role in triggering inflammation and the immune attack behind hair loss.
Their first clinical trial involved 112 clinical centers in 25 countries. The second trial included 125 centers across 28 countries.
In all, nearly 1,400 participants between the ages of 12 and 64 were evaluated. Only people with a severe form of alopecia areata that had caused them to lose at least 50% of the hair on their scalp were eligible for the trials.
The trials were conducted between November 2023 and July 2025.
Participants in both trials were divided into three treatment groups. About 40% of them received a daily dose of 15 milligrams of upadacitinib. Another 40% received a daily dose of 30 milligrams (mg) of upadacitinib. The remaining 20% were given a placebo.
During the first 24 weeks, scientists tracked participants’ hair growth, with assessments at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 24. The subjects then entered a 28-week extension period, continuing the medication under blinded conditions to assess longer-term performance.
The researchers said that nearly half of the people taking the 15 mg dose of upadacitinib reached the 80% coverage mark within 24 weeks. With the 30 mg dose, that figure rose to more than 54%.
The researchers also reported that more than 35% of patients on the 15 mg dose and about 46% on the 30 mg dose achieved hair regrowth of 90% or more coverage, compared with roughly 1% in the placebo group.
About 13% of participants on the low dose and 23% of participants on the high doses, achieved complete scalp hair regrowth, compared to almost none in the placebo group. More than half of the 30 mg group also had significant eyelash and eyebrow regrowth.
The most commonly reported side effects included acne, colds, throat irritation, and upper respiratory tract infections. Serious side effects, however, were rare.
Anthony Oro, MD, a professor of dermatology at Stanford University, wasn’t involved in the study, but said the results of the latest research are promising.
“Upadacitinib is effective in promoting hair growth blocked by the immune system,” he told Healthline. “Because it is an already approved drug, the safety profile is well known and adds another entry from which patients can choose.”
Using JAK inhibitors to treat hair loss
Kobren notes that repurposing JAK inhibitors to treat alopecia areata has been studied for more than a decade.
He noted there are now three JAK inhibitor treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for severe alopecia areata. These include:
“Before JAK inhibitors, patients with severe disease had very few consistently effective treatment options,’ Kobren said. “Now we are seeing people with very advanced disease grow back significant amounts of hair and in some cases experience remarkable regrowth.”
Kobren, however, said there are some risks with hair loss medications.
“These are powerful systemic immune modulating drugs,” he explained. “The risks are real, and some of those risks can be very serious and potentially life threatening. Patients need to understand that and need to be properly screened and followed by a physician who has experience with these medications.”
Kobren added that the treatments may be needed over a long period of time.
“When treatment is stopped, the disease can return and the hair that was regrown can be lost. So, for some patients, maintaining their hair may mean remaining on systemic treatment long term,” he said.
Oro said that adding upadacitinib as an option could make hair loss treatments more accessible and affordable.
“Having another JAK inhibitor will hopefully bring down the cost of the therapy and make it more available to patients,” he said.
What to know about hair loss
About 80 million people in the United States experience hair loss at some time in their lives.
Androgenetic alopecia, also known as hereditary pattern baldness, is the most common cause of hair loss in both males and females.
About 7 million people in the United States have alopecia areata.
The condition may begin in childhood or adulthood and can affect people of any ethnicity, sex, or age. It manifests differently for each person.
Symptoms of alopecia areata usually appear before the age of 40. The condition usually results in hair loss in patches about the size of a quarter.
Hair loss can be caused by genetics, as in the case of androgenic alopecia. It can also develop as an autoimmune condition, as in alopecia areata.
Hair loss can develop gradually over years or happen abruptly. Depending on the underlying cause, it may be temporary or permanent.
Topical ointments and oral medications are generally prescribed as a first-line treatment. Hair transplant surgery is also sometimes employed.
There are styling products and tools that can increase the risk of hair loss. Among them:
- blow dryers
- heated combs
- hair straighteners
- coloring products
- bleaching agents
There are things you can do to help prevent hair loss. Among them:
- keep your hairstyle loose, especially if you wear braids
- avoid touching your hair unnecessarily
- pat your hair dry as opposed to rubbing it with a towel
- maintain a nutrient-rich, balanced diet
It’s important to note that hair loss can lead to more than just a change in physical appearance.
Hair loss can trigger emotional distress and lead to conditions such as anxiety, depression, lower self-esteem, and withdrawal from social situations.
Kobren said people with hair loss need to weigh the effects of their condition against the risks associated with long-term medications use.
“I think it is important not to minimize what living with severe alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, or alopecia universalis can do to a person,” he said. “The emotional and psychological impact can be tremendous. There are patients who understand that these medications carry significant risks… and are still willing to accept them for the possibility of getting their hair back.”
“That is an intensely personal decision. I do not think anyone can make that decision for the patient,” Kobren added. “What is important is that patients fully understand both the potential benefits and the potential risks, and make that decision with a physician who truly understands the disease and the medication.”
