Patients with severe alopecia areata treated with upadacitinib achieved significantly greater hair regrowth at Week 24 compared to placebo.
New subgroup data from the UP-AA Phase III clinical program indicate the drug was effective in both adolescents and adults with severe alopecia areata. Across two studies, both the 15 mg and 30 mg doses led to higher response rates than placebo, with no new safety signals identified.
At Week 24, a greater proportion of adolescents and adults receiving upadacitinib achieved a Severity of Alopecia Tool score of 20 or less. Among adolescents, response rates for this measure were 56.0% and 56.5% with the 15 mg dose, and 84.6% and 76.2% with the 30 mg dose. In adults, the corresponding rates were 44.1% and 43.6% for 15 mg, and 51.8% and 52.6% for 30 mg.
Placebo response rates were low: 0% and 10.0% in adolescents, and 1.6% and 3.0% in adults.
Beyond scalp hair regrowth, improvements were also seen in eyebrow and eyelash regrowth. Quality-of-life measures improved versus placebo.
Safety findings were consistent with the known profile of upadacitinib. No serious treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in adolescents, while such events were reported in 3.0% or fewer adults. No deaths were reported.
The investigators concluded upadacitinib demonstrated high efficacy in adolescents and adults with severe alopecia areata.