Eli Lilly reports efficacy of ADHD treatment

Eli Lilly has announced that clinicians have received guidance that its attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Strattera (atomoxetine HCl) is effective for up to a year in patients who have responded well to initial treatment.

In the 18-month trial of patients who met the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders criteria for the condition, Strattera was found to be superior to placebo in maintaining continuous efficacy as measured by the ADHD rating scale.

Furthermore, the trial showed lower relapse rates in patients receiving Strattera compared to those receiving placebo, measured at 2.5 per cent compared to 12.2 per cent.

AJ Allen, global medical director of Strattera at Eli Lilly, said: “In the past, our understanding of ADHD treatment was limited to clinical data on short-term use, meaning a few weeks or a couple of months.”

He added that the approval of the compound by the US Food and Drug Administration marks the first time clinicians have been advised that the drug is effective for up to a year.

In November 2007, research from the University of Heidelberg in Germany found that the cost of prescribing ADHD drugs would rise ten-fold by 2012.