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Study Finds Focalin XR Works Quicker Than Concerta

July 15, 2008

A study has found Novartis’ attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Focalin XR worked better than Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ Concerta in children two hours after they took it although Concerta worked better 12 hours after dosing.

The study, published in the June Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, compared the efficacy and safety of 20-mg and 30-mg daily doses of Focalin XR (dexmethylphenidate HCl) with 36-mg and 54-mg daily doses of Concerta (methylphenidate HCl) in 84 children age 6–12 with ADHD. The clinical trial took place in a laboratory classroom setting.

“Both doses of [Focalin XR] had a more rapid onset and greater morning effect relative to [Concerta], while [Concerta] had a greater effect at the end of the 12-hour day,” the study abstract said. “All active treatments provided a significant benefit over placebo at most time points to 12 hours post-dosing. Both treatments were well tolerated.” Efficacy for the two drugs was similar at the eight-hour mark.

Primary efficacy was measured by Swanson, Kotkin, Agler, Mylnn and Pelham Rating Scale-Combined scores, a standard assessment tool used in laboratory classroom clinical trials to evaluate attention and behavior, Novartis said. The lead author of the journal article, Rafael Muniz, is a Novartis employee.

An abstract of the article can be viewed at www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cap.2007.0015.