FDA approves ADHD treatment for children

NEW YORK The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new medication for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

British drug maker Shire announced last week the approval of Intuniv (guanfacine) extended-release tablets, a once-daily treatment for ADHD in patients ages 6 to 17. The drug, which belongs to a class known as alpha-2A adrenergic receptor agonists, is thought to work by engaging receptors in an area of the brain linked to ADHD by strengthening them, reducing patients’ susceptibility to distraction and improving their memory.

“Shire is proud to introduce Intuniv, providing clinicians, patients and their families with a novel ADHD treatment option,” Shire Specialty Pharmaceuticals president Mike Cola said in a statement. “This is a complex disorder in which patients may present with multiple symptoms and behaviors that can be disruptive.”

The drug will become available in U.S. pharmacies in November in the 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg strengths.