MHRA approves deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi) to treat severe alopecia areata in adults
What was announced
As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of deuruxolitinib under close review.
Key points, in the publisher's words
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi) to treat severe alopecia areata in adults.
- Alopecia areata is a disease where the body’s own immune system attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation that leads to hair loss on the scalp, face and/or other parts of the body.
- Deuruxolitinib works by reducing the activity of enzymes called JAK1, JAK2 and TYK2 relative to JAK3 kinases, which are involved in inflammation at the hair follicle. This reduces the inflammation, leading to hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata.
Figures in this announcement
Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.
- “The trials studied 1209 adult patients with alopecia areata that had lost at least 50% of their hair for more than 6 months.”
- “Leqselvi was shown to improve hair growth in subjects with severe alopecia areata, with around 30% of subjects experiencing 80% or more scalp hair after 24 weeks of treatment, and around 23% of subjects experiencing 90% or more scalp hair after 24 weeks of treatment.”
Who and where
UK bodies of power
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (executive agency) · more news
Where this sits in the 10 levels of power
Topics, as GOV.UK files them: Marketing authorisations, variations and licensing guidance.
Receipt
- Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-approves-deuruxolitinib-leqselvi-to-treat-severe-alopecia-areata-in-adults
- Published 2026-10-23 15:42:43 UTC (first published 2026-03-12)
- Read by this site 2026-10-23 19:45:37 UTC from GOV.UK
- Saved copy: receipt 764, with its SHA-256 fingerprint
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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