Shire announces availability of new Vyvanse dose strengths

Shire Pharmaceuticals has announced the availability of Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) in six dosage strengths.

The company said the introduction of new dosage strengths for the compound will enable doctors to titrate to achieve the best possible efficacy and tolerability in children and adults with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Vyvanse is now available in pharmacies in 20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 50mg, 60mg and 70mg doses.

It is a therapeutically inactive prodrug, in which d-amphetamine is covalently bonded to l-lysine and converted into pharmacologically active d-amphetamine following ingestion.

Shire notes within the first year of availability, the compound has seen over two million prescriptions filled in the US.

Greg Mattingly, associate clinical professor at the department of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, said: “?The prevalence of ADHD is concerning to the medical community. ADHD may affect adults in their professional life, social life and relationships.”

He added Vyvanse has been shown in clinical studies to significantly improve ADHD symptoms in adults, enhancing the ability to focus and organise while reducing restlessness and interrupting.

Last month, Shire announced the relaunch of its ADHD website offering patients a virtual roadmap of the condition together with information, tools and practical tips.