This Once-Daily Pill Helps The Skin Regain Its Color in People With Vitiligo

Key Points:

• A daily pill called upadacitinib has shown promise in restoring skin color for some people with vitiligo, potentially offering a more convenient treatment than creams or light therapy, especially for widespread or hard-to-reach patches.
• In two clinical trials involving 614 participants, about 23-25% of those taking upadacitinib regained at least 75% of facial skin color lost to vitiligo, compared to 6-7% in placebo groups, with similar improvements seen on other body areas.
• Upadacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, works by modulating the immune response that attacks pigment-producing skin cells, but around three-quarters of patients did not meet the primary improvement target, and longer treatment may yield further benefits.
• Common side effects included respiratory infections, acne, headaches, and inflammation, with some serious adverse events reported; long-term safety remains uncertain as the study duration was 48 weeks with ongoing follow-up.
• The drug has been approved in the EU for eligible patients aged 12 and older, but the trials had limitations including underrepresentation of people with darker skin and lack of comparison to existing treatments; further research is needed to assess lasting effects and broader applicability.