Active — Not RecruitingPhase 3

A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of Upadacitinib Tablets in Adult and Adolescent Participants in Japan With Alopecia Areata

Japan125 participantsStarted 2025-06-19

Plain-language summary

Alopecia areata (AA) is a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. AA usually affects the head and face, but hair loss can happen on any part of the body. The purpose of this study is to assess how safe, effective, and tolerable upadacitinib is in adolescent and adult participants in Japan with severe AA. Upadacitinib is an approved drug being investigated for the treatment of AA. In Period A, participants are placed in 1 of 3 groups, called treatment arms. Each group receives a different treatment. There is a 1 in 3 chance that participants will be assigned to placebo. In Period B, participants originally randomized to a upadacitinib dose group in Period A will continue their same treatment in Period B. Participants originally randomized to Placebo in Period A will be re-randomized in 1 of 2 groups receiving upadacitinib. Participants who complete Period B can join Period C and will receive 1 of 2 doses of upadacitinib for up to 52 weeks based on their SALT score. Around 123 adolescent and adult participants with severe AA will be enrolled in the study at approximately 20 sites in Japan. Participants will receive oral tablets of either upadacitinib or placebo once daily for up to 104 weeks with the potential of being re-randomized into a different treatment group at Weeks 24 and 52. Participants will be followed up for up to 30 days after their last study drug dose. There may be higher treatment burden for participants in this trial compared to their standard of care. Participants will attend regular visits during the study at a hospital or clinic. The effect of the treatment will be checked by medical assessments, blood tests, checking for side effects and completing questionnaires.

Who can participate

Age range

12 Years – 63 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participant is judged to be in good health as determined by the Principal Investigator, based upon the results of the Screening assessments and medical history. * Diagnosis of severe alopecia areata (AA) with Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score \>= 25 (\>= 25% scalp hair loss) at Screening and Baseline. * Current episode of AA of less than 8 years. Exclusion Criteria: * Current diagnosis of primarily diffuse type of AA. * Current diagnosis of other types of alopecia that would interfere with evaluation of AA, including but not limited to female pattern hair loss, male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) Stage III or greater based on Hamilton-Norwood classification, traction alopecia, lichen planopilaris (LPP), discoid lupus, frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), folliculitis decalvans, trichotillomania, and telogen effluvium. * Diagnosis of other types of inflammatory scalp, eyebrow, or eyelash disorders that would interfere with evaluation of AA as determined by the investigator, including but not limited to seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD), and tinea capitis. * Active infection(s) requiring treatment with intravenous anti-infectives within 30 days, or oral/intramuscular anti-infectives within 14 days prior to the Baseline Visit. * Chronic recurring infection and/or active viral infection that, based on the investigator's clinical assessment, makes the participant an …

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Percentage of Participants with the Achievement of Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) Score <= 10

Timeframe: Week 24

Number of Participants with Adverse Events (AEs)

Timeframe: Up to approximately 108 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07023302

SponsorAbbVie

Sponsor typeINDUSTRY

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2029-02

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Alopecia Areata trials