Treatments and compositions for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a patent review

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome that affects children prior to 12 years of age. ADHD manifests as inappropriate behavior and learning difficulties and, in many cases, it persists into adulthood. In most cases, pharmacological treatment is sufficient; however, this approach frequently does not address all symptomatology of comorbidities and also affects the risk of secondary side effects that may influence compliance.

Areas covered. This review emphasizes the recent progress in ADHD treatment, which was published in the patent literature from 2005-2015. We focused on novel mechanisms of action and potential treatments for achieving control of ADHD comorbidities, offering theoretical advantages compared with current medication. Newer agents are also proposed in recent patents and compounds for child and adult ADHD.

Expert opinion. The patented drugs and compositions may provide a greater opportunity to develop more personalized, effective, and tolerable medications, without the liability of abuse. Particularly interesting will be the results obtained with drugs with a dual mechanism of action, agonists of trace amine receptors, and compounds that exhibit cognitive enhancing properties. Effectiveness and efficacy studies are also necessary to determine whether the characteristics of different drugs are related to their effects on disease.

KEYWORDS:

• ADHD
• ADHD comorbidities
• non-stimulant drugs
• stimulant drugs

Article highlights

• There are numerous patents that describe novel compounds and mechanisms of action for ADHD treatments. Other inventions propose formulations based on the molecular conjugates of a known efficacious ADHD drug with a nutraceutical, which aim to obtain an augmented response while reducing undesirable secondary effects.

• The main objectives of new drugs are to not only treat the nuclear symptoms of ADHD supported by the DSM-5 but also simultaneously ameliorate comorbid diseases (e.g. conduct disorders and depressive symptoms, as the higher incidence), with single or combined treatments.

• Examples of drugs under development include compounds not related to amphetamines (AMFs); however, their effects are intermediated by the receptors of trace amines (TAARs).

• Dual ligands that target dopamine and serotonin receptors may be useful for ADHD comorbid with a conduct disorder.

• Other compounds in development include several non-peptide antagonists of neurokinin receptors, based on the fact that neurokinins are substances structurally related to the neuropeptides that modulate dopaminergic transmission.

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Declaration of interest

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.