Skip to main content

Intuniv

Generic name: guanfacine
Treatment for: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Update: Intuniv (guanfacine) Now FDA Approved - September 2, 2009

Shire Announces NDA Submission of Guanfacine Extended Release for the Treatment of ADHD in Children and Adolescents

Shire Seeks FDA Approval of First Selective Alpha-2A-Adrenoceptor Agonist ADHD Treatment, Which, if Approved, Broadens the ADHD Portfolio for Shire

BASINGSTOKE, England and PHILADELPHIA, August 24, 2006 -- Shire plc announced today that it has submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its investigational compound guanfacine extended release (previously referred to as SPD503), which, if approved, would be the first once-daily selective alpha-2A-adrenoceptor agonist for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children aged 6 to 17 years. Shire has proposed the trade name Connexyn for the product. The application is subject to a 10-month FDA review period.

"The NDA submission of guanfacine extended release is another Shire milestone in the development of our ADHD portfolio, demonstrating further our ability to execute on our strategy for continued growth," said Matthew Emmens, Shire's Chief Executive Officer. "As the first selective alpha-2A-adrenoceptor agonist submitted to the FDA for the treatment of ADHD, Connexyn, if approved, would enhance our product portfolio as a new non-stimulant ADHD medication, reaffirming our commitment to the ADHD community in providing a range of effective treatment options for this disorder."

Shire plans to continue development of guanfacine extended release by initiating a Phase IIIb clinical trial to assess its safety and efficacy in children with ADHD who also exhibit oppositional behavior ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00367835 ).

"With this submission, as well as the recent approval and launch of Daytrana, the regulatory submission of SPD465, and the anticipated FDA response this October concerning NRP104, we have been successful in advancing our ADHD pipeline considerably," added Emmens.

About guanfacine extended release

Shire is seeking approval of 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 mg once-daily Guanfacine Extended Release doses for the control of ADHD symptoms throughout the day in children aged 6 to 17 years. The Guanfacine Extended Release NDA includes data from two placebo-controlled trials in children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 evaluating the compound's safety and efficacy in controlling ADHD symptoms evaluated on a once-weekly basis using the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, which included both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive subscales.

Guanfacine extended release is a once-daily formulation of the selective alpha-2A-adrenoceptor agonist. Unlike some other ADHD treatments, guanfacine extended release is not a central nervous system stimulant or a controlled substance and has no known potential for abuse or dependence.

Adrenergic receptors are present on almost all kinds of cells in the body and act as receptors for two neurotransmitters, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine, used by nerve cells to communicate. An agonist is a molecule that acts similar to these neurotransmitters by also binding to receptors. It is hypothesized that guanfacine HCl binds to the alpha-2A-adrenergic cell receptor to act directly in the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, an area that is associated with working memory, behavioral inhibition, attention and cognitive control, as well as the ability to orchestrate thought and action.

About ADHD

ADHD affects approximately 7.8 percent of all school-age children, or about 4.4 million children in the U.S. ADHD is considered the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents. ADHD is a neurological brain 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 age and maturity. While there is no "cure" for ADHD, medication can be an effective part of a treatment plan to manage your child's ADHD symptoms.

Source: Shire plc

Posted: August 2006

Related articles

Intuniv (guanfacine) 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.