ADHD Drug As Effective in Boys As Girls, Says Shire

UK pharmaceutical company Shire said that results from a study for its attention-deficit disorder patch Daytrana show that it has significant efficacy in reducing the symptoms of ADHD in both male and female children aged six to 12 years.

In the study, investigators randomized 270 children to receive Daytrana, Johnson & Johnson’s extended-release ADHD drug Oros methylphenidate, or placebo. The 96 children in the Daytrana group reported a significant mean reduction of 56.5% in their ADHD Rating Scale-IV (total scores from the study start to end, the study’s primary endpoint.

The 58 boys that received Daytrana averaged a significant 56% total score reduction, while the 38 girls averaged a significant 57.4% reduction.

“Few clinical studies have examined gender differences in the response to ADHD treatments. Our study documented that Daytrana offered a favorable safety profile and was an effective ADHD treatment in both boys and girls,” said Robert Findling, lead investigator and professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University. “The study provides a platform to open a dialogue about gender and ADHD.”