Dive Brief:
- The ER version of Shire's Intuniv (guanfacine) can now be used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients aged six to 17 in Europe.
- Intuniv is a non-stimulant ADHD medication.
- Intuniv ER is the first selective alpha-2A adrenergic receptor agonist licensed for the treatment of ADHD in the E.U.
Dive Insight:
According to the ADHD Institute, the worldwide prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents ranges from 5.2% to 7.1%. While most of these individuals benefit from stimulants in order to address the symptoms of ADHD, roughly 30% of children and adolescents with ADHD are intolerant of stimulants.
This is where medications such as Intuniv play a role in expanding treatment options for patients. Intuniv has the distinction of being not only the first selective alpha-2A adrenergic receptor agonist licensed for the treatment of ADHDin the E.U., but also the second non-stimulant on the market for the treatment of ADHD in pediatric patients.