Daily Arthritis Pill Sparks Major Hair Regrowth in Severe Alopecia Areata

Two Phase 3 UP-AA trials of the JAK1 inhibitor upadacitinib (Rinvoq) showed substantial hair regrowth in severe alopecia areata: 24 weeks of treatment yielded 45–55% of patients achieving at least 80% scalp coverage and up to 23% reaching complete regrowth, with improvements continuing through a 52‑week extension; Europe approved the drug for this use in 2026 and the FDA decision in the US was pending at that time; safety matched other JAK inhibitors, necessitating monitoring.