Efficacy of guanfacine extended-release in the treatment of ADHD was established in children and adolescents (6 to 17 years) in:

  * Three short-term, placebo-controlled monotherapy trials (Studies 1, 2, and 4)   

  * One short-term, placebo-controlled adjunctive trial with psychostimulants (Study 3).



Studies 1 and 2: Fixed-dose Guanfacine Extended-Release Monotherapy

Study 1 (301 study) was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed-dose study, in which efficacy of once daily dosing with guanfacine extended-release (2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg) was evaluated for 5 weeks (n=345) in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years. Study 2 (304 study) was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed-dose study, in which efficacy of once daily dosing with guanfacine extended-release (1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg) was evaluated for 6 weeks (n=324) in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years. In both studies, randomized patients in 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg dose groups were titrated to their target fixed dose, and continued on the same dose until a dose tapering phase started. The lowest dose of 1 mg used in Study 2 was not randomized to patients weighing more than 50 kg. Patients who weighed less than 25 kg were not included in either study.

Signs and symptoms of ADHD were evaluated on a once weekly basis using the clinician administered and scored ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV), which includes both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive subscales. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline to endpoint in ADHD-RS-IV total scores. Endpoint was defined as the last post-randomization treatment week for which a valid score was obtained prior to dose tapering (up to Week 5 in Study 1 and up to Week 6 in Study 2).

The mean reductions in ADHD-RS-IV total scores at endpoint were statistically significantly greater for guanfacine extended-release compared to placebo for Studies 1 and 2. Placebo-adjusted changes from baseline were statistically significant for each of the 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg guanfacine extended-release randomized treatment groups in both studies, as well as the 1 mg guanfacine extended-release treatment group that was included only in Study 2 (see Table 16).

Dose-responsive efficacy was evident, particularly when data were examined on a weight-adjusted (mg/kg) basis. When evaluated over the dose range of 0.01 to 0.17 mg/kg/day, clinically relevant improvements were observed beginning at doses in the range 0.05 to 0.08 mg/kg/day. Doses up to 0.12 mg/kg/day were shown to provide additional benefit.

In the monotherapy trials (Studies 1 and 2), subgroup analyses were performed to identify any differences in response based on gender or age (6 to 12 vs. 13 to 17). Analyses of the primary outcome did not suggest any differential responsiveness on the basis of gender. Analyses by age revealed a statistically significant treatment effect only in the 6 to 12 age subgroup. Due to the relatively small proportion of adolescent patients (ages 13 to 17) enrolled into these studies (approximately 25%), these data may not have been sufficient to demonstrate efficacy in the adolescent patients. In these studies, patients were randomized to a fixed dose of guanfacine extended-release rather than optimized by body weight. Therefore, some adolescent patients were randomized to a dose that might have resulted in relatively lower plasma guanfacine concentrations compared to the younger patients. Over half (55%) of the adolescent patients received doses of 0.01 to 0.04 mg/kg. In studies in which systematic pharmacokinetic data were obtained, there was a strong inverse correlation between body weight and plasma guanfacine concentrations.

Study 3: Flexible-dose Guanfacine Extended-Release as Adjunctive Therapy to Psychostimulants

Study 3 (313 study) was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-optimization study, in which efficacy of once daily optimized dosing (morning or evening) with guanfacine extended-release (1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg), when coadministered with psychostimulants, was evaluated for 8 weeks, in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years with a diagnosis of ADHD, with a sub-optimal response to stimulants (n=455). Patients were started at the 1 mg guanfacine extended-release dose level and were titrated weekly over a 5-week dose-optimization period to an optimal guanfacine extended-release dose not to exceed 4 mg/day based on tolerability and clinical response. The dose was then maintained for a 3-week dose maintenance period before entry to 1 week of dose tapering. Patients took guanfacine extended-release either in the morning or the evening while maintaining their current dose of psychostimulant treatment given each morning. Allowable psychostimulants in the study were ADDERALL XR ®, VYVANSE ®, CONCERTA ®, FOCALIN XR ®, RITALIN LA ®, METADATE CD ® or FDA-approved generic equivalents. 

Symptoms of ADHD were evaluated on a weekly basis by clinicians using the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV), which includes both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive subscales. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline to endpoint in ADHD-RS-IV total scores. Endpoint was defined as the last post- randomization treatment week prior to dose tapering for which a valid score was obtained (up to Week 8).

Mean reductions in ADHD-RS-IV total scores at endpoint were statistically significantly greater for guanfacine extended-release given in combination with a psychostimulant compared to placebo given with a psychostimulant for Study 3, for both morning and evening guanfacine extended-release dosing (see Table 17). Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) of patients reached optimal doses in the 0.05 to 0.12 mg/kg/day range.

Study 4: Flexible-dose Guanfacine Extended-Release Monotherapy

Study 4 (314 study) was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-optimization study, in which efficacy of once daily dosing (morning or evening) with guanfacine extended-release (1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg) was evaluated for 8 weeks in children aged 6 to 12 years (n=340).

Signs and symptoms of ADHD were evaluated on a once weekly basis using the clinician administered and scored ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV), which includes both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive subscales. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline score at endpoint on the ADHD-RS-IV total scores. Endpoint was defined as the last post-randomization treatment week for which a valid score was obtained prior to dose tapering (up to Week 8).

Mean reductions in ADHD-RS-IV total scores at endpoint were statistically significantly greater for guanfacine extended-release compared to placebo in both AM and PM dosing groups of guanfacine extended-release (see Table 17).

Additional pediatric use information for patients ages 6 to 17 years is approved for Shire US Inc.’s INTUNIV® (guanfacine) extended-release tablet product. However, due to Shire US Inc.'s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that pediatric information.