Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD, is a professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Université Côte d'Azur in Nice, France.

Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD

 continues to emerge in the vitiligo treatment landscape, and clinicians in the skin health space are beginning to see meaningful shifts in the previously limited systemic therapy landscape.

2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting

 editorial team spoke about some new data on upadacitinib for non-segmental vitiligo alongside Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Université Côte d'Azur in Nice, France.

The team spoke with Passeron about the latest phase 3 findings on upadacitinib, a Janus-kinase (JAK) inhibitor, resulting from the Viti-Up-1 and Viti-Up-2 studies, as well as the drug’s significance in the broader evolution of vitiligo care.

 The following Q&A includes his responses:

Would you tell us a bit about the new data that you presented, putting it into its proper context within the current treatment landscape for vitiligo?

 We know now that vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder. Unfortunately, so far, there is no systemic treatment approved for vitiligo, and there is still a high need for patients suffering from vitiligo. Here we report the first phase 2 and phase 3 studies on the use of upadacitinib 15 milligrams for adults, but also adolescents, more than 12 years old, suffering from non-segmental vitiligo. There were two studies…They included patients with non-segmental vitiligo affecting both the face and the body. On the face, the inclusion criteria were a F-VASI ≥ 0·5 and a [Total Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (T-VASI)] ≥ 5. It was 48 weeks study and compared to a placebo, and the randomization was 2 to 1, so the patient received either upadacitinib 15 milligrams or the placebo once daily.

 Were there any other notable elements of the study design worth mentioning?

 It was equally men and women. Most of the patients were White, followed by Asian, and not that many Black patients. Most of the patients were skin types 3 and 4. Very importantly, it was a very severe population…Both co-primary endpoints were met and were highly significant against placebo. About 20% of the patients, after 48 weeks, reached T-VASI 50 compared to about 6% in placebo…The results between the 2 studies were quite similar. So it's positive results. What was so important was that we know that in vitiligo, it takes a lot of time. And here it was true monotherapy without phototherapy, without su-exposure.

What we are seeing is that there is increased repigmentation during this time, and it's not reaching a plateau, which is not surprising. We know that we need most of the time, 1, 2, or 3 years to get optimal repigmentation In vitiligo, and even more in patients who are that severe, such as in this study.

The last but very important point is safety. In fact, this is the first study assessing any JAK inhibitors against a placebo for a period of over 48 weeks. The tolerance was very good in the groups in the 2 studies. There was no new safety signal. What we usually expect with JAK inhibitors is some nasopharyngitis, acne, folliculitis, but no MACE, no BTA, no gastrointestinal perforation. So, a very good safety profile in this population, which is very reassuring.

What might be some next steps for this research on upadacitinib in this population?

 In fact, we are looking forward to the longer-term results, because now the study is continuing in open-label for 2 years. After two years, the patient who wants to can combine with narrow band UVB, and we’re already seeing in my department that the patient is continuing to improve. But we are we must wait for the results, and I'm quite optimistic also that…it will boost the recommendation. But what is already good is that it also halts the disease progression for those patients who are very active, it also halts the disease progression, which is something very important for the patient, not seeing the lesions growing and growing indefinitely.

 Were there any differences among subgroups you highlighted in these analyses?

We don't know yet. We didn't analyze the subgroup analysis. Of course, there's a lot of data, so a lot to dig into, but we don't know yet. Also, with the patients, depending on adolescents and adults, [we are wondering whether there] are any differences? We are waiting for this sub-analysis. It's just the first result we have.

The quotes contained in this summary were edited for the purposes of clarity.

Passeron is a consultant for AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Calypso, Galderma, Incyte Corporation, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roivant, UCB, and VYNE Therapeutics. He has received grants and/or honoraria from AbbVie, ACM Pharma, Almirall, Amgen, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Calypso, Celgene, Galderma, Genzyme/Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, Incyte Corporation, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roivant, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, UCB, and VYNE Therapeutics. He is the cofounder of NIKAIA Pharmaceuticals and founder of SUNLUTION, and has patents on WNT agonists or GSK3b antagonist for repigmentation of vitiligo and the use of CXCR3B blockers in vitiligo.

Passeron T, Prajapati V, Seneschal J, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Adolescents and Adults for Treatment of Non-Segmental Vitiligo: Results of Two Phase 3 Studies (Viti-Up). Presented at: 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting; March 27-31, 2026; Denver, CO.

Smith T. Upadacitinib Regulatory Applications Submitted for Adults, Adolescents with Vitiligo. HCPLive. February 3, 2026. Accessed March 30, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/upadacitinib-regulatory-applications-submitted-adults-adolescents-vitiligo

Articles

Phase 3 Viti-Up-1 and Viti-Up-2 evaluated upadacitinib 15 mg once daily as monotherapy in adolescents (≥12 years) and adults with severe non-segmental vitiligo involving face and body (F-VASI ≥0.5; T-VASI ≥5) over 48 weeks. Both co-primary endpoints were met with statistically significant repigmentation versus placebo, including ~20% achieving T-VASI50 at week 48 versus ~6% on placebo. Repigmentation continued to increase without an apparent plateau. Safety over 48 weeks was reassuring, with no new signals.

This Q&A interview highlights several takeaways from the data on upadacitinib in patients with non-segmental vitiligo (NSV).

Key Insights on Upadacitinib’s Efficacy for Non-Segmental Vitiligo, With Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD

Next Steps for Upadacitinib in Non-Segmental Vitiligo, With Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD

Upadacitinib’s impact over 48 weeks on patients with nonsegmental vitiligo is highlighted in recent findings presented at the 

, with investigators identifying no new safety signals or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) during this treatment period.

These findings from the Viti-Up-1 and Viti-Up-2 studies led to an interview on-site at AAD between the 

 team and Viti-Up trial investigator Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Université Côte d'Azur in Nice, France.

 In this additional segment, Passeron was asked several additional questions about the data, including his view on the future of this research. 

“In fact, we are looking forward to the longer-term results, because now the study is continuing in open-label for 2 years,” Passeron explained. “After 2 years, the patient who wants to can combine with narrow-band UV-B [treatment]. We are already seeing, in my department, that [the patient numbers] continue to grow. But while we must wait for the results, and I'm quite optimistic also that when we combine with narrow-band UV-B, it will boost the recommendation.”

Passeron was also asked how he might counsel patients who are seeking complete clearance of their nonsegmental vitiligo. He stressed the importance of managing the expectations of such patients, noting that vitiligo is not the same as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. Passeron noted that a patient cannot expect to have clearance 16 or even 24 weeks, describing monotherapy as time-consuming.

Later, Passeron was also asked whether there had been any differences among racial subgroups observed in the Viti-Up studies. He noted there was not yet a subgroup analysis, though such data may be released in time. He also noted the importance of looking at the different results among younger vs older patients.

“[I've been] working on vitiligo for more than 25 years, and we are very excited for the patients already,” Passeron said. “…Already, the results for [upadacitinib] are very good.”

For any additional information on these new data or their discussion with Passeron, view his full interview segment posted above.

Passeron is a consultant for AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Calypso, Galderma, Incyte Corporation, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roivant, UCB, and VYNE Therapeutics. He has received grants and/or honoraria from AbbVie, ACM Pharma, Almirall, Amgen, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Calypso, Celgene, Galderma, Genzyme/Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, Incyte Corporation, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roivant, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, UCB, and VYNE Therapeutics. He is the cofounder of NIKAIA Pharmaceuticals and the founder of SUNLUTION, and holds patents on WNT agonists or GSK3β antagonists for repigmentation of vitiligo and on the use of CXCR3B blockers in vitiligo.

Passeron T, Prajapati V, Seneschal J, et al. Efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in adolescents and adults for treatment of non-segmental vitiligo: results of two phase 3 studies (Viti-Up). Presented at: 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting; March 27-31, 2026; Denver, CO.

Passeron T. Upadacitinib safe, effective over 48 weeks for non-segmental vitiligo, with Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD. HCPLive. March 30, 2026. Accessed April 1, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/upadacitinib-safe-effective-48-weeks-non-segmental-vitiligo-thierry-passeron-md-phd

Videos

In this segment of his interview, Passeron speaks on the next steps for upadacitinib in nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV).

Next Steps for Upadacitinib in Nonsegmental Vitiligo, With Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD

Upadacitinib Safe, Effective Over 48 Weeks for Non-Segmental Vitiligo, With Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD

Upadacitinib is both safe and effective over 48 weeks among patients with 

, new findings suggest, with no new safety signals or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) identified.

These late-breaking data, the result of the Viti-Up-1 and Viti-Up-2 studies, were released during the 

 editorial team spoke on-site with trial investigator Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Université Côte d'Azur in Nice, France.

“Unfortunately, so far, there is no systemic treatment approved for vitiligo, and there is still a high unmet need for the patients suffering from vitiligo,” Passeron explained.

Non-segmental vitiligo, an autoimmune inflammatory disease impacting the skin, is characterized by patients’ loss of melanocytes. This can lead to unpredictable skin depigmentation. Passeron stressed the lack of systemic medications approved for the condition, describing additional options as necessary.

Passeron and colleagues reported in this study on the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib, a selective once-daily Janus kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor, 15 mg in adults and adolescents with non-segmental vitiligo. It was studied across 48 weeks in this pair of identical, pivotal phase 3 analyses.

In his interview, Passeron noted most of the patients were Fitzpatrick skin types 3 and 4, further describing those treated with upadacitinib in the study as being a severe disease population. The subjects were both adults and adolescents aged ≥ 12 years with this skin disease involving the face and body.

They all had a Facial Vitiligo Scoring Index (F-VASI) ≥ 0·5 and a Total Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (T-VASI) ≥ 5. The subjects were randomized 2:1 to be treated either with upadacitinib 15 mg or placebo once daily. There were 614 individuals involved across Viti-Up-1 (n=308) and Viti-Up-2 (n=306) in total.

“Two-thirds of the population were active, and three-fourths had T-VASI above 10…and the mean duration of the vitiligo was about 15 years,” Basseron said. “Most of them had vitiligo that had already been treated by topical treatment of phototherapy.”

In this poster at AAD, the treatment with upadacitinib was described as providing clinically meaningful repigmentation among adult and adolescent patients with non-segmental vitiligo.

 Passeron and coauthors’ safety data through week 48 were described as consistent with the overall profile for upadacitinib.

Specifically, they noted a lack of reports of adjudicated MACE, adjudicated gastrointestinal (GI) perforations, adjudicated venous thromboembolic events (VTE), lymphoma, active tuberculosis, non-melanoma skin cancer, or opportunistic infections outside of herpes zoster in either analysis.

 Among the most often reported TEAEs, examples included acne, upper respiratory infection, nasopharyngitis, and headache. There were 4 serious infections reported among patients in the Viti-Up-1 upadacitinib cohort, though none led to treatment cessation.

For any additional information on the new data from the Viti-Up-1 and 2 trials, view the full video with Passeron posted above.

Patients with non-segmental vitiligo (NSV) on upadacitinib versus placebo showed continuous improvement over 48 weeks with no plateau.