Phase II/III Study of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate in Japanese Pediatric Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity

Hironobu Ichikawa1, Tasuku Miyajima2, Yushiro Yamashita3

  • 1Japan Developmental Disorders Network, Tokyo, Japan.

Insights

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) effectively treated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Japanese children. The study confirmed LDX

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychiatry
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder in children.
  • Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) is an established treatment for ADHD, but its efficacy and safety in Japanese pediatric populations require specific investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) in Japanese pediatric patients diagnosed with ADHD.
  • To compare the effects of different LDX dosages (30, 50, and 70 mg/day) against a placebo over a 4-week treatment period.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted.
  • 76 Japanese pediatric patients (6-17 years) with ADHD received LDX (30, 50, or 70 mg/day) or placebo for 4 weeks.
  • Efficacy was assessed using the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV), Conners' Third Edition (Japanese version), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I), and Parent Global Assessment (PGA) scales.

Main Results:

  • All LDX dosage groups showed statistically significant improvements in ADHD-RS-IV total scores compared to placebo (p < 0.0001).
  • Significant improvements were also observed in Conners 3 inattention/hyperactivity subscales and CGI-I/PGA scores for LDX groups versus placebo.
  • LDX was generally well-tolerated, with decreased appetite, headache, and initial insomnia being the most frequent adverse events.

Conclusions:

  • Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (30, 50, and 70 mg/day) demonstrated superior efficacy over placebo in Japanese pediatric patients with ADHD.
  • No significant safety or tolerability concerns specific to this population were identified, supporting LDX as a viable treatment option.

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