HILADELPHIA,
May 22 (Bloomberg News) —
Eli Lilly & Company's experimental drug Atomoxetine treats attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder in children and teenagers without some of the drawbacks
of standard treatments, research has shown.In two large studies presented at the American Psychiatric Association in Philadelphia, Atomoxetine reduced symptoms of the disorder in patients more than a placebo did. The drug, which analysts expect the Food and Drug Administration to approve in spring of 2003, would be the first medicine indicated to treat the disorder that is not a stimulant.
The disorder, which affects 3 to 7 percent of school-age children in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health, is characterized by impulsive behavior, restlessness and an inability to focus on tasks.