The United Arab Emirates has made history as the first nation to approve an oral treatment for non-segmental vitiligo, offering a new therapeutic option for patients aged 12 and above. The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has sanctioned the use of RINVOQ (upadacitinib) for adults and adolescents whose condition necessitates systemic therapy.
Non-segmental vitiligo is characterized by the loss of skin pigment, leading to the appearance of white patches due to the destruction of melanocytes, the cells responsible for melanin production. The precise cause remains unclear, though an autoimmune response is a major suspected factor. Importantly, vitiligo is not contagious.
This groundbreaking approval introduces an oral systemic treatment, RINVOQ, which is taken once daily, to eligible patients in the UAE, expanding the treatment landscape for those with this skin condition.
