Skip to main content

FDA Approves Vyvanse for ADHD in Adolescents

FDA Approves Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules CII for the Treatment of ADHD in Adolescents

PHILADELPHIA - November 15, 2010 Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the prescription medication Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules CII for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents ages 13 to 17. The approval is based on study data demonstrating that Vyvanse improved ADHD symptoms compared to placebo in adolescents with ADHD.1  Vyvanse is also indicated for the treatment of ADHD in children ages 6 to 12 years, and adults.1

This adolescent indication for Vyvanse is good news for kids in this age group diagnosed with ADHD and their caregivers as it offers an additional treatment option to help them manage their symptoms, said Mike Yasick, Senior Vice President of Shire's ADHD Business. The approval of Vyvanse for children and adults - and now for adolescents - underscores Shire's commitment to helping ADHD patients and their families.

The FDA's approval of Vyvanse in adolescents was based on results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-week, forced-dose escalation study of adolescents who received one of three Vyvanse doses, 30, 50 and 70 mg/day, or a placebo.1  This study was conducted in 314 adolescents aged 13 to 17 who met DSM-IV-TR® criteria for ADHD.1  In this study, patients were randomized to a daily morning dose of Vyvanse (30 mg/day, 50 mg/day or 70 mg/day) or placebo for a total of four weeks of treatment.1  All subjects receiving Vyvanse were initiated on 30 mg for the first week of treatment.1 Subjects assigned to the 50 mg and 70 mg dose groups were escalated by 20 mg per week until they achieved their assigned dose.1  The primary efficacy outcome was change in Total Score from baseline to end point in investigator ratings on the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS).1  The ADHD-RS-IV rating scale is a measure of the core symptoms of ADHD.2  The core symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.3 All Vyvanse dose groups were superior to placebo in the primary efficacy outcome.1

The safety of Vyvanse was also evaluated during the study.1  The most frequently occurring treatment-emergent adverse events (greater than or equal to 5 percent and twice placebo) reported in patients treated with Vyvanse were decreased appetite, insomnia, and weight decrease.1 Safety results were generally consistent with previous Vyvanse studies in children and adults.4

Vyvanse is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence.  Keep Vyvanse in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse.  Selling or giving away Vyvanse may harm others, and is against the law.  Vyvanse is a stimulant medication.  Misuse of stimulants may cause sudden death and serious cardiovascular adverse events.

Shire Development Inc. supported this study.

About Vyvanse

Vyvanse, which was introduced in the United States in July 2007 for the treatment of ADHD in children ages 6 to 12 years, approved in April 2008 to treat ADHD in adults, and approved in November 2010 to treat ADHD in adolescents ages 13 to 17, is currently available in six once-daily dosage strengths of 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, and 70 mg.1

Additional information about Vyvanse and Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, including WARNING about Potential for Abuse, are available at http://www.vyvanse.com.

INDICATION
Vyvanse is a prescription medicine for the treatment of ADHD in children ages 6 to 17 and adults. Vyvanse should be used as part of a total treatment program that may include counseling or other therapies.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Vyvanse is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep Vyvanse in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Vyvanse may harm others, and is against the law. Vyvanse is a stimulant medication.  Misuse of stimulants may cause sudden death and serious cardiovascular adverse events.

Please see Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide including WARNING about Potential for Abuse, and discuss with your doctor.  For more information, please visit http://www.vyvanse.com.

About ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric behavioral disorder that manifests as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development.3,5

ADHD is one of the most common childhood psychiatric disorders.6  In the United States, approximately 7.8 percent of all school-age children have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).7  Although many people tend to think of ADHD as a childhood problem, up to 65 percent of children with ADHD may still exhibit symptoms in adulthood.8  The disorder is also estimated to affect 4.4 percent of US adults aged 18 to 44 based on results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.9  When this percentage is extrapolated to the full US population aged 18 and over, approximately 9.8 million adults are believed to have ADHD.10
 
The specific etiology of ADHD is unknown, and there is no single diagnostic test for this disorder.6  Adequate diagnosis requires the use of medical and special psychological, educational, and social resources, utilizing diagnostic criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR®) or International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10).3,5,6

Although there is no cure for ADHD, there are accepted treatments that have been demonstrated to improve symptoms.6  Standard treatments include educational approaches, psychological therapies which may include behavioral modification, and/or medication.6

 

For further information please contact:

 

Media 

Matthew Cabrey
mcabrey@shire.com

+1 484 595 8248
 
 

Cori Blair (Porter Novelli for Shire)
Cori.Blair@porternovelli.com

+1 212 601 8248

Shire plc

Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions.  Shire’s in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global rights.  Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company’s Web site: http://www.shire.com.

"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Statements included herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks or uncertainties materialize, the Company’s results could be materially adversely affected. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the inherent uncertainty of research, development, approval, reimbursement, manufacturing and commercialization of the Company’s Specialty Pharmaceutical and Human Genetic Therapies products, as well as the ability to secure and integrate new products for commercialization and/or development; government regulation of the Company’s products; the Company’s ability to manufacture its products in sufficient quantities to meet demand; the impact of competitive therapies on the Company’s products; the Company’s ability to register, maintain and enforce patents and other intellectual property rights relating to its products; the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain government and other third-party reimbursement for its products; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

References:

1. Vyvanse [package insert], Wayne, Pa: Shire US Inc., November 2010
2. Collett BR, Ohan JL, Meyers KM. Ten year review of rating scales. V: scales assessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.  J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003;42(9):1015–1037.
3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed., Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR®). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2000:85-93.
4. Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Efficacy and Safety Study of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate in Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Poster Presentation #I.56. Presented at the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit Meeting; June 14-17,2010; Boca Raton, FL.
5. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth revision, (ICD-10). World Health Organization; 2007: Chapter 5, F90.  http://www.who.int/classifications/apps/icd/icd10online/. Accessed September 29, 2010.
6. Pliszka S and the AACAP Work Group on Quality Issues. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007;46(7):894-921.
7. Mental health in the United States: Prevalence of diagnosis and medication treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, United States, 2003. MMWR. 2005;54(34):842-847.
8. Dulcan, M and the AACAP Work Group on Quality Issues. Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1997;36(10 Suppl):85S-121S.
9. Kessler RC, Adler L, Barkley R, et al. The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the national comorbidity survey replication.  Am J Psychiatry. 2006; 163:716-723.
10. Annual Estimates of the Population by Selected Age Groups and Sex for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005 (NC-EST2005-02).  U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed September 29, 2010.

Posted: November 2010

Related articles

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) FDA Approval History

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.