Adderall patch results come out positive

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group today announced positive preliminary results from clinical trials of its methylphenidate transdermal system (MTS) which is being developed in conjunction with Noven Pharmaceuticals for children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). "Shire aims to have a range of medicines in its ADHD portfolio, with ADDERALL XR being the most prescribed treatment for ADHD in the US. If approved, this product will be a strong addition and we look forward to advancing its development further,” Matthew Emmens, Chief Executive Officer of Shire, said in a statement.

It may be recalled that due to serious safety concerns Health Canada forced Shire to recall Adderall. The FDA, on the contrary, has refused to take any action. If the FDA approves this new product, it will be a big setback to those consumers who have been demanding that FDA also act in this matter. (Related article: Adderall recall)

Shire will release additional details of the trial results following further analysis and as part of an R&D update in May 2005. Emmens added, “These results demonstrate that MTS has the potential to provide significant benefits for children with ADHD, especially those that have difficulty taking oral medications and those that find a once-a-day patch more appropriate for their lifestyle. As the ADHD market develops, new choices of treatment are emerging, including specialized delivery systems (such as MTS) to meet the needs of different patients."

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