Shares of Shire rise as its new ADHD drug nears OK

9 October 2006

Shares in Shire plc, the world's largest seller of attention deficit disorder medications with headquarters in Basingstoke, Hampshire, soared today after it received tentative federal approval to market a new drug that may be harder to abuse.

Shire announced that the Food and Drug Administration has given it an 'approvable' letter for its new compound NRP104, which does not yet have a brand name. Shire is developing it with New River Pharmaceuticals Inc., in the United States.

Formal approval and sale still requires review by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which also regulates most ADHD medications because they are stimulants. Shire said FDA drug reviewers have not asked for any further safety studies.

Instances of ADHD-medication abuse by children or others has become a major concern for physicians, parents and health experts. Shire's other ADHD drugs include Adderall XR, the current No. 1 seller.

Shares in Shire were up 15 percent in London.

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