Adults in Britain with severe alopecia areata have a new treatment option after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved deuruxolitinib, which will be sold as Leqselvi, the regulator has announced.
Alopecia areata happens when the immune system turns on the body's own hair follicles, triggering inflammation that causes hair to fall out on the scalp, the face or elsewhere. Deuruxolitinib is a tablet that dampens the activity of certain enzymes involved in that inflammation at the follicle, which in turn allows hair to grow back.
The decision rests on two large trials covering 1,209 adults whose hair loss affected at least half of their scalp and had lasted more than six months. Participants took Leqselvi 8 mg, deuruxolitinib 12 mg or a placebo twice a day for 24 weeks. Those on Leqselvi scored higher on a scalp hair measure than those given the placebo. Around 30% of subjects had 80% or more of their scalp hair back after 24 weeks, and around 23% reached 90% or more.
Julian Beach, the MHRA's Executive Director for Healthcare Quality and Access, said the approval offers adults with the condition "another potential treatment option to help manage their condition", adding that the regulator will keep the medicine's safety and effectiveness under close review. The recommended dose is an 8 mg tablet taken twice daily, and it can only be obtained with a prescription.
Headache and acne are the most common side effects, which may affect more than one in ten people. Patients who suspect a reaction are asked to speak to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and to report it through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. The drug, approved on 10 March 2026 to Sun Pharma UK Limited under the International Recognition Procedure, is subject to additional monitoring.
What it means in practice
For most people this changes nothing immediately: the drug is not on general sale and cannot be bought over the counter. The practical route is through a GP or specialist who can assess whether the treatment is suitable, and patients should expect a conversation about benefits and risks rather than a straightforward request for a prescription.
- Prescription only — you cannot buy Leqselvi; access depends on a clinical assessment through the NHS or a private prescriber.
- Report reactions — anyone who starts the medicine and notices side effects such as headache or acne should tell their doctor and log it with the Yellow Card scheme.
- Watch for updates — the drug is under additional monitoring, so patients and prescribers should check the MHRA's product information as new safety data emerges.
