Shire looks to boost awareness of ADHD

Shire Pharmaceuticals has announced a programme to increase awareness of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adults.

The firm reports figures from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication which shows the condition affecting 4.4 per cent of adults in the US, with 65 per cent of children who have the disease continuing to exhibit symptoms into adulthood.

The firm has launched a three-month screening initiative and expects up to 20,000 adults to self-screen in 13 cities across the US.

Gerardo Torres, vice-president and scientific lead of the ADHD business unit at the firm, said: “Shire developed this mobile screening initiative as a forum to educate the public about ADHD in adults and provide information and resources to individuals about this disorder.”

He added that the scheme underlines the company’s continuing commitment to provide information to individuals with ADHD symptoms.

According to surveys, sufferers of ADHD are three times more likely to be unemployed, twice as likely to have problems retaining friends, 57 per cent more likely to have trouble saving to pay bills and twice as likely to be involved in three or more car crashes.

In January 2008, Shire announced the approval of a wider range of dosage strengths of Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) to facilitate improved customisation of ADHD treatment for individual patients.