An increasing number of patients are seeking support for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with pharmacological-based treatments an important part of medical care for the neurodevelopmental condition.
A study published this week in the Journal of Affective Disorders has found that greater awareness and acceptance around the disorder has led to more people seeking help. The research, led by a team at King’s College, London, debunks claims that the disorder is ‘naturally’ on the rise. The data comes as a national taskforce in England investigates what this rising demand for support means for the NHS.
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Figures published in May 2025 by NHS England estimated there were nearly 2.5 million people in England with ADHD. This includes more than 550,000 currently waiting for an assessment. Every month 20,000 more people are referred for support, a rise of 13% compared to last year.
Pharmaceutical Technology looks at some of the current options in the UK and casts an eye ahead to what the future drug landscape might contain.
The first choice for patients with ADHD is methylphenidate, which belongs to a class of drugs called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. The drug, which works by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, increases activity in the brain, including regions associated with attention and behaviour. It is known under the brand names Ritalin, manufactured by Novartis, and Johnson and Johnson’s Concerta. There is also Equasym and Xenidate, among others.
Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is also used to treat patients with ADHD. Like methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine is a CNS stimulant and acts as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). This drug is known under the brand name, among others, as Elvanse and Vyvanse, both manufactured by Takeda.
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By GlobalDataWhile stimulants are fast acting, with side effects felt soon after administration, non-stimulant drugs take longer, yet can offer an alternative if drugs like methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate do not work.
While improving, access to pharmacological-based treatments is still impaired amid an ongoing global shortage that began in September 2023. Methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine were primarily affected – the shortage arising due to a combination of manufacturing issues and increased global demand. A separate study published in The American Journal of Managed Care in March suggested that overdiagnosis of ADHD is fuelling the shortage of stimulation medications.
Recent approvals and pipeline candidates
One of the most advanced candidate drugs, and one with notable buzz surrounding it, is Axsome’s Sunosi (solriamfetol). Sunosi, which is also an NDRI but not a conventional stimulant, met its primary endpoint in a Phase III trial (NCT05972044) earlier this year. The medication led to a 45% drop in ADHD symptoms. As measured by the Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS), 150mg Sunosi dosed achieved average reductions from baseline of 17.7 points, compared to 14.3 points for placebo.
Sunosi is already approved in the UK to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adults with narcolepsy, with or without cataplexy. Certain patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are also eligible to take the medication. In 2022, Axsome paid $53m up front to acquire Sunosi from Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
A drug with a recent approval extension in the US, though not the UK, was Supernus Pharmaceuticals’ Qelbree (viloxazine extended-release capsules). The mechanism of action of Qelbree, though unclear, is thought to be through inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine. Originally approved for children in 2021, the FDA updated the drug’s label in January this year to include adults.
ADHD treatments were in the political crosshairs in the US recently. The disorder, along with autism, was singled out by the Trump administration for an “over-utilisation of medication”.
Pharmaceutical intervention remains a helpful part of managing the disorder, though it is part of a combination of treatments that also include coaching and lifestyle changes.
