Generic erosion will see ADHD drug market fall from $5 billion in 2009 to $4.1 billion in 2019

The attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug market in the top seven countries (the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan) will fluctuate modestly over the next decade, decreasing from $5 billion in 2009 to a trough in 2013 before climbing to $4.1 billion in 2019, according to a new report from advisory firm Decision Resources.

An expanding drug-treated population and increasing use of new therapies through 2019 will be unable to fully counter the steep losses caused by the generic erosion of the blockbuster psychostimulants - Shire's (LSE: SHP) Adderall XR (mixed amphetamine salts) and McNeil Pediatrics/Janssen-Cilag's Concerta/Concerta XL (methylphenidate).

The findings from the Pharmacor topic titled Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder reveal that, by 2019, Shire's Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) will be only the third blockbuster agent in the ADHD market to date, garnering nearly $1.4 billion across the world's major pharmaceutical markets. The continued uptake of Vyvanse is due in part to the drug's lower abuse potential when compared to that of other first-line psychostimulants as well as its expansion into European markets.