Abbott and other leading scientists will present new phase II data showing that ABT-089, a selective neuronal nicotinic receptor (NNR) agonist, is a potentially effective and safe treatment for adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The studies are being presented at the American Psychiatric Association 161st Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
Phase II study results show that ABT-089 appears to significantly improve the core symptoms of ADHD, improve quality-of-life and work effectiveness, and reduce overall work impairment in adults with ADHD. Data also revealed that ABT-089 appears to be generally well tolerated with no significant negative effects on sleep, appetite or vital signs (heart rate and blood pressure).
ADHD, an ailment historically associated with childhood, persists into adulthood in more than two-thirds of cases. While medical treatment can improve the symptoms of ADHD, currently approved treatments often cause undesirable side effects, including increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
ABT-089 appears to exhibit an improved profile compared to current treatments by improving the core and associated symptoms of ADHD without clinically significant side effects. The compound targets specific types of NNRs found on nerve cells in the central nervous system. NNRs, also known as neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), modulate the release of several important neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine and dopamine, and are an important class of ion channels that have been associated with a number of neurological conditions.
"We have seen therapeutic promise in targeting NNRs for more than a decade, for both pain and the cognitive deficits associated with a variety of diseases, including ADHD and Alzheimer's disease," said James Sullivan, Ph.D., divisional vice president, neuroscience discovery, Abbott. "We are very encouraged with the results of our ADHD work; this is a condition that demands innovative treatments, particularly to address side effect issues that have been observed with current treatments".
"The studies evaluating efficacy demonstrated that ABT-089 reduced the severity of symptoms and was generally well tolerated in adults with ADHD," said Timothy Wilens, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, director of Substance Abuse Services in Paediatric Psychopharmacology at Massachusetts GeneralHospital. "Not all NNR agonists may be suitable for the treatment of ADHD. By selectively targeting specific NNR receptors, ABT-089 appears to have a favourable profile for treating the condition".