In a phase 3 trial of children with ADHD, DR/ER-MPH (formerly HLD200), a delayed-release and extended-release methylphenidate, improved ADHD symptoms and reduced at-home early morning and late afternoon/evening functional impairments versus placebo, as measured by the validated Parent Rating of Evening andMorning Behaviors-Revised, Morning (PREMB-R AM) and Evening (PREMB-R PM) subscales. This post hoc analysis evaluated the effect of DR/ER-MPH versus placebo onindividual PREMB-R AM/PM item scores.

Data were analyzed from a pivotal, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 trial of DR/ER-MPH in children (6-12 years) withADHD (NCT02520388). Using the 3-item PREMB-R AM and 8-item PREMB-R PM, both key secondary endpoints, investigators evaluated early morning and lateafternoon/evening functional impairment by scoring each item on a severity scale from 0 (none) to 3 (a lot). For post hoc analyses, treatment comparisons between DR/ER-MPH and placebo at endpoint were determined by using least squares mean changes from baseline on individual PREMB-R AM/PM items score derived from an analysis ofcovariance (ANCOVA) model with treatment as the main effect, and study center and baseline score as covariates.

Of 163 children enrolled across 22 sites, 161 were included in the intent-to-treat population (DR/ER-MPH, n=81; placebo, n=80) and 138 completed the study. The mean DR/ER-MPH dose achieved after 3 weeks of treatment was 68.1 mg. Following 3 weeks of treatment, DR/ER-MPH significantly reduced mean individual item scores from baseline versus placebo on all PREMB-R AM items (all P≤0.002; “getting out of bed”, “getting ready”, and “arguing or struggling in the morning”). Additionally, DR/ER-MPH significantly reduced mean individual item scores from baseline on 5 out of 8 PREMB-R PM items (P<0.01 in 2 items [“sitting through dinner” and “playing quietly”] and P<0.05 in 3 items [“inattentive/distractible”, “transitioning between activities”, and “settling down/getting ready for bed”]). There was a trend towards a reduction on 2 other items of the PREMB-R PM (P<0.09). Distributions of the ratings for each item will be presented. No serious TEAEs were reported; TEAEs were consistent withmethylphenidate.

Post hoc analyses revealed that DR/ER-MPH significantly reduced all PREMB-R AM item scores, including “getting out of bed”, and many PREMB-R PM items, including “getting ready for bed” in children with ADHD. These findings are worth further exploration.

Ironshore Pharmaceuticals & Development, Inc.