FDA approves Shire’s Vyvanse for treating adult ADHD

WAYNE, Pa. The Food and Drug Administration has approved Shire’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Vyvanse for the treatment of adults, according to published reports.

Around one-third of current Vyvanse prescriptions are written for off-label use in adults already, although Shire hasn’t been able to promote the drug to these patients until now.

Switching patients from Adderall XR to Vyvanse is very important for the company because Adderall XR is set to lose patent protection in April 2009.

“We are confident that this approval for adult patients will help continue to increase prescription share and volume of Vyvanse,” chief executive officer Matthew Emmens said.

The drug had sales of almost $66 million during Shire’s Q4 2007.