Hair loss drug showdown: tofacitinib vs methotrexate in new trial

NCT ID NCT07406204

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study compares two oral medications—tofacitinib and methotrexate—for treating severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition causing hair loss. 78 adults aged 18-60 with severe scalp or total body hair loss will take one of the drugs for 12 weeks. The main goal is to see which medicine leads to more hair regrowth, measured by a standard hair loss score.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
tofacitinib and methotrexate
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that tofacitinib is a more effective option than methotrexate for regrowing hair in severe alopecia areata.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial with only 78 participants and a short 12-week treatment period. Results may not apply to everyone, and both drugs have side effects like infection risk.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

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