A Decision Resources´ Pharmacor report states that U.K. Shire´s attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs will be dominating this market by 2017, owing in part to their recently launched Vyvanse´s efficacy, and its approval for both children and adults, as well as lower abuse potential compared with other psycho-stimulants on the market.

The new Pharmacor report, entitled Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, states that Vyvanse will generate some $ 1.2 billion dollars in sales in 2017.

According to the report, Vyvanse and other Shire products, including Daytrana and the emerging non-stimulant agent Intuniv, will help secure Shire´s dominance of the ADHD market, to hold some 44 percent total market share in 2017 in the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K. and Japan.

Shire's dominance will be maintained in spite of losses to generic competition in 2009 in the U.S. for its leading product, Adderall XR ($ 558 million dollars in 1H2008 sales).

ADHD has been treated over the last 50 years with psycho-stimulants, notably methylphenidate, available in products such as McNeil Pediatrics/Janssen-Cilag's (a Johnson & Johnson unit) Concerta/Concerta XL, the top earner with sales of $ 569 million dollars in the first half of the year.

However, with the industry demand for drugs without abuse liability, focus has shifted toward the development of new non-stimulant therapies, stated Decision Resources analyst Jonathan Searles.

"Given their own limitations in efficacy and safety, emerging non-stimulants will be prescribed for niche segments or as adjunctive therapies, together earning less than 15 percent market share in 2017,” said Searles.

Additionally, improved diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD will help sustain market growth from 2012 to 2017, encouraged in part by the release of improved diagnostic criteria and growing acceptance of the disorder, according to the report.