Efficacy and Safety Study of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Extended Release in Adults With Childhood-onset Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A 40-week, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Efficacy and Safety Study of Methylphenidate HCl Extended Release in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Childhood-onset ADHD

This study will evaluate efficacy and safety of methylphenidate hydrochloride extended release compared to placebo in adult patients with childhood-onset attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Ritalin LA 20 mg; Drug: Ritalin LA 30 mg

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 725
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Brugge, Belgium, 8310
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, 3550
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Kessel-Lo, Belgium, 3010
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Kortenberg, Belgium, 3070
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Mechelen, Belgium, 2800
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Uccle, Belgium, 1180
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Colombia
  • Antioquia, Colombia, 0000
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Antioquia, Colombia
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Bogotá, Colombia
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Denmark
  • Århus C, Denmark, 8000
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Germany
  • Ahrensburg, Germany, 22926
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Bamberg, Germany, 96047
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Berlin, Germany, 10629
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Berlin, Germany, 12200
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Dresden, Germany, 01129
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Ellwangen, Germany, 73479
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Essen, Germany, 45147
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Freiburg, Germany, 79106
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Freiburg, Germany, 79104
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Hagen, Germany, 58093
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Hamburg, Germany, 20259
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Hannover, Germany, 30625
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Homburg, Germany, 66421
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Kiel, Germany, 24105
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Landau, Germany, 76829
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Leipzig, Germany, 04157
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Limburg, Germany, 65549
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Ludwigsburg, Germany, 71636
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Mainz, Germany, 55131
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Mannheim, Germany, 68159
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • München, Germany, 80333
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Naumburg, Germany, 06618
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Nürnberg, Germany, 90419
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Siegen, Germany, 57076
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Ulm, Germany, 89081
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Westerstede/Oldenburg, Germany, 26655
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Wolfsburg, Germany, 38444
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Würzburg, Germany, 97070
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Norway
  • Porsgrunn, Norway, 3922
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Skien, Norway, 3725
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Singapore
  • Singapore, Singapore, 119074
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• South Africa
  • Benoni, South Africa
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Melrose Arch, South Africa, 2196
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Pretoria, South Africa, 0001
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Sweden
  • Luleå, Sweden, 972 35
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Malmö, Sweden, 211 53
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Stockholm, Sweden, 141 86
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• United States
  • Arkansas
    • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72205
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • California
    • Beverly Hills, California, United States, 90210
      • Novartis Investigative Site
    • Spring Valley, California, United States, 91978-1522
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Florida
    • Bradenton, Florida, United States, 34208
      • Novartis Investigative Site
    • Miami, Florida, United States, 33173
      • Novartis Investigative Site
    • Orlando, Florida, United States, 32806
      • Novartis Investigative Site
    • West Plam Beach, Florida, United States, 33407
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Illinois
    • Libertyville, Illinois, United States, 60048
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Kentucky
    • Owensboro, Kentucky, United States, 42301
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Michigan
    • Troy, Michigan, United States, 48083
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Nevada
    • Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89119
      • Novartis Investigative Site
    • Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89128
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • New Jersey
    • Willingboro, New Jersey, United States, 08046
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • North Dakota
    • Fargo, North Dakota, United States, 58103
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73112
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19149
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77007
      • Novartis Investigative Site
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77008
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Washington
    • Bellevue, Washington, United States, 98004
      • Novartis Investigative Site
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98104
      • Novartis Investigative Site

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion criteria:

1. Diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which started in childhood
2. Female patients of childbearing potential must be practicing an acceptable method of contraception.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Patients with body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5 kg/m2 or more than 35 kg/m2
2. History of alcohol or substance abuse within the last six months.
3. History of seizures or use of anticonvulsant medication.
4. Any psychiatric condition that requires medication or may interfere with study participation.
5. Pre-existing cardiovascular disorders including severe hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infraction, etc.
6. Significant respiratory, hepatic, gastrointestinal, renal, hematological or oncologic disorder
7. Diagnosis of glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma
8. Diagnosis or family history of Tourette's syndrome
9. Pre-existing cerebrovascular disorders such as cerebral aneurysm, vascular abnormalities including vasculitis or stroke

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: TRIPLE

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Ritalin LA 40 mg; In period 1 patients were given Ritalin LA 20 mg and up titrated to 40 mg at week 2, continued in same dose till week 9. Period 2- The dose of study medication was re-titrated for all patients (including those in the Placebo arm during Period 1) starting at 20 mg/day Ritalin LA and increased at weekly intervals in increments of 20 mg/day until reaching the patient's optimal dose 40 mg. Optimal dose was defined as the dose at which the investigator considered an optimal balance between control of symptoms and side effects was maintained for a period of at least one week prior to Week 14. In period 3, patients were re- randomized to either their optimal dose of medication (40, 60, or 80 mg/day) or Placebo from beginning of week 15 to end of week 40.	Drug: Ritalin LA 20 mg; Ritalin LA (a racemic mixture of d- and l-thre-Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (MPH), extended release hard capsules) taken orally once daily in doses of 40, 60, or 80 mg.
EXPERIMENTAL: Ritalin LA 60 mg; In period 1 patients were given Ritalin LA 20 mg and up titrated to 40 mg at week 2 and to 60 mg at week 3. Period 2- The dose of study medication was re-titrated for all patients (including those in the Placebo arm during Period 1) starting at 20 mg/day Ritalin LA and increased at weekly intervals in increments of 20 mg/day until reaching the patient's optimal dose 60 mg. Optimal dose was defined as the dose at which the investigator considered an optimal balance between control of symptoms and side effects was maintained for a period of at least one week prior to Week 14.In period 3, patients were re- randomized to either their optimal dose of medication (40, 60, or 80 mg/day) or Placebo from beginning of week 15 to end of week 40.	Drug: Ritalin LA 20 mg; Ritalin LA (a racemic mixture of d- and l-thre-Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (MPH), extended release hard capsules) taken orally once daily in doses of 40, 60, or 80 mg.; Drug: Ritalin LA 30 mg; Ritalin LA (a racemic mixture of d- and l-thre-Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (MPH), extended release hard capsules) taken orally once daily in doses of 60, or 80 mg.
EXPERIMENTAL: Ritalin LA 80 mg; In period 1 patients were given Ritalin LA 20 mg and up titrated to 40 mg at week 2 and to 60 mg at week 3 and to 80 mg at week 4. Period 2- The dose of study medication was re-titrated for all patients (including those in the Placebo arm during Period 1) starting at 20 mg/day Ritalin LA and increased at weekly intervals in increments of 20 mg/day until reaching the patient's optimal dose 60 mg. Optimal dose was defined as the dose at which the investigator considered an optimal balance between control of symptoms and side effects was maintained for a period of at least one week prior to Week 14. In period 3, patients were re- randomized to either their optimal dose of medication (40, 60, or 80 mg/day) or Placebo from beginning of week 15 to end of week 40.	Drug: Ritalin LA 20 mg; Ritalin LA (a racemic mixture of d- and l-thre-Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (MPH), extended release hard capsules) taken orally once daily in doses of 40, 60, or 80 mg.; Drug: Ritalin LA 30 mg; Ritalin LA (a racemic mixture of d- and l-thre-Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (MPH), extended release hard capsules) taken orally once daily in doses of 60, or 80 mg.
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo; Period 1- Placebo controlled Period 2 - The dose of study medication was re-titrated for all patients (including those in the Placebo arm during Period 1) starting at 20 mg/day Ritalin LA and increased at weekly intervals in increments of 20 mg/day until reaching the patient's optimal dose (40, 60 or 80 mg). In period 3, patients were re- randomized to either their optimal dose of medication (40, 60, or 80 mg/day) or Placebo from beginning of week 15 to end of week 40.	Drug: Placebo; Placebo Comparator: Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline of Period 1 (Baseline 1) to End of Period 1 on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (DSM-IV ADHD RS) Total Score by Treatment	Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (DSM-IV ADHD RS) total score consists of 18 items directly adapted from the ADHD symptom list according to the DSM-IV. The DSM-IV ADHD RS total score was calculated as the sum of the Inattentive and the Hyperactive-Impulsive subscores. The 18 items are rated from 0 ("Never") to 4 ("Very often"). The total score ranges from 0(least symptomatic) to 72 (most symptomatic). Decrease in the DSM-IV ADHD RS total score indicates improvement, therefore a greater decrease (change at Final Visit compared to baseline) indicates a greater improvement in ADHD symptoms. 30% improvement: 100×(DSM-IV ADHD RS total score during Period 1 - DSM-IV ADHD RS total score at randomization(visit 2))/DSM-IV ADHD RS total score at randomization (visit 2) <= - 30%.	Baseline 1 to End of Period 1 (Week 9)
Change From Baseline Period 1 (Baseline 1) to End of Period 1 on Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Total Score by Treatment	SDS, a 5-self-rated questionnaire to measure the extent a pt's disability due to an illness/health problem interferes with work/school, social life/leisure, family life/home. First 3 items, pts are asked how their symptoms disrupted their reg. activities over the past 7d in ea. using a scale from 0(not at all)-10(extremely) Ea. subscale(work disability, social life disability, family life disability) can be scored independently or combined into a total score(sum of the non-missing responses for items 1-3)from 0-30,higher scores indicate significant functional impairmt. Subscale scores >5 suggest impairment in that subscale area. Final 2 items ask pts about the # of days their symptoms caused them to miss school/work and # of days their symptoms caused them to be underproductive at school/work.(These items were not included in the total score.) Before responding to SDS items 1-3, pts were verbally instructed to recall the past 7d, items 4-5 refer to the last week w/in the item wording.	Baseline 1 to End of Period 1 (Week 9)
Percentage of Participants With Treatment Failures During Period 3	Treatment failure is defined as: 100×(DSM-IV ADHD RS total score during Period 3 - DSM-IV ADHD RS total score at re-randomization (visit 13))/DSM-IV ADHD RS total score at re-randomization (visit 13) >= 30% AND 100×(DSM-IV ADHD RS total score during Period 3 - DSM-IV ADHD RS total score at randomization (visit 2))/DSM-IV ADHD RS total score at randomization (visit 2) > - 30%. The ADHD-RS-IV is an 180item clinician rated scale to assess ADHD by DSM-IV-TR, defined criteria using symptom terminology appropriate for the adult population. Each item pertains to inattention (odd-numbered) or hyperactivity/impulsivity (even-numbered) and is scored on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 3 (severe symptoms). A total added score can range from 0-54	Baseline Period 1 (Baseline 1) and Baseline Period 3 (Baseline 2) to End of Week 40

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Patients With Improvement on Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) From Baseline Period 1 (Baseline 1) to End of Period 1	On the CGI-I scale, a lower score reflects greater improvement between 1 and 3, a score of 4 is "no change", scores higher than 4 reflect worsening. The CGI-I consists of 7 ratings that range from 1 = "Very much improved" to 7 ="Very much worse". Improvement on the CGI-I scale is defined as a visit rating of 1 "very much improved" or 2 "much improved" on the CGI-I scale. Percentage has been calculated from the evaluable patients (N) as Percentage = n/N * 100.	Baseline 1 to End of Period 1 (Week 9)
Change From Baseline 1 in DSM-IVADHD RS Total Score, SDS Total Score, The Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale Observer Short Version (CAARS-O:S) Total Score and Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Total Score at the End of Period 2 (Visit 13/ Week 14)	DSM-IV ADHD RS consists of 18 items directly adapted from the ADHD symptom list according to the DSM-IV. The SDS is a five-item, self-rated questionnaire that has been used widely in clinical trials and observational studies. CAARS-O: S consists of 26 items and 6 subscales: Inattention/Memory Problems, Hyperactivity/Restlessness, Impulsivity/Emotional Lability, Problems with Self-Concept, ADHD Index, and Inconsistency Index and is rated by someone close to the patient in their daily life such as a spouse, friend, or coworker. The Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS) is a self-rating scale designed to assess Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. The 18 items are written to reflect the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD and are rated from 0 ("Never") to 4 ("Very often").	Baseline 1 to End of Period 2 (Week 14)
Number of Participants With Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) Rating at the End of Period 2 (Visit 13/ Week 14)	CGI-I assesses the overall change of illness relative to baseline. CGI-I consists of 7 ratings that range from 1 = "very much improved", 2 = "much improved", 3 = "minimally improved", 4 = "no change from baseline", 5 = "minimally worse", 6 = "much worse" 7 = "very much worse"	Baseline 1 to End of Period 2 (Week 14)
Number of Participants With Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale Severity of Illness (CGI-S) Rating at the End of Period 2 (Visit 13/ Week 14)	CGI-S assesses the patient's current illness state. CGI-S consists of 7 ratings that range from 1 = "normal, not at all ill" , 2 = "borderline mentally ill", 3 =" mildly ill", 4 = "moderately ill", 5 = "markedly ill", 6 = "severely ill", 7 = "among the most extremely ill patients"	Baseline 1 to End of Period 2 (Week 14)
Change From Baseline Period 3 (Baseline 2) to End of Period 3 on DSM-IV Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale ADHD RS Total Score by Treatment	The ADHD-RS-IV is an 180 item clinician rated scale to assess ADHD by DSM-IV-TR, defined criteria using symptom terminology appropriate for the adult population. Each item pertains to inattention (odd-numbered) or hyperactivity/impulsivity (even-numbered) and is scored on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 3 (severe symptoms). A total added score can range from 0-54.	Baseline 2 to end of Period 3 (end of withdrawal period 40 weeks)
Change From Baseline Period 3 (Baseline 2) to End of Period 3 on SDS Total Score by Treatment	The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) is a self-rating scale designed to assess the extent to which the patient's work social life/leisure activities and home life are impaired by his or her symptoms. The scale generates 4 scores: a work disability score, a social life disability score, a family life disability score and a total score. To get a total score the 3 individual scores (work: social life: family life) are totaled. The maximum possible score is 30 The higher the score, the more "impaired" a patient's work, social life, family life is.	Baseline 2 to end of Period 3 (end of withdrawal period 40 weeks)
Number of Patients With Worsening on CGI-I Scale From Baseline Period 3 (Baseline 2) to End of Period 3 by Treatment	On the CGI-I scale, a lower score reflects greater improvement between 1 and 3, a score of 4 is "no change", scores higher than 4 reflect worsening. The CGI-I consists of 7 ratings that range from 1 = "Very much improved" to 7 ="Very much worse". Improvement on the CGI-I scale is defined as a visit rating of 1 "very much improved" or 2 "much improved" on the CGI-I scale.	Baseline 2 to end of Period 3 (end of withdrawal period 40 weeks)
Number of Patients With Worsening on CGI-S Scale From Baseline Period 3 (Baseline 2) to End of Period 3 by Treatment	CGI-S assesses the patient's current illness state. CGI-S consists of 7 ratings that range from 1 = "normal, not at all ill" , 2 = "borderline mentally ill", 3 =" mildly ill", 4 = "moderately ill", 5 = "markedly ill", 6 = "severely ill", 7 = "among the most extremely ill patients"	Baseline 2 to end of Period 3 (end of withdrawal period 40 weeks)
Change From Baseline Period 3 (Baseline 2) to End of Period 3 in Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales Observer: Short Version (CAARS-O:S:) Total Score by Treatment	CAARS is an instrument to assess ADHD symptoms and behaviors in adults. This study utilizes the Observer Short Version (CAARS-O: S), consisting of 26 items and 6 subscales: Inattention/Memory Problems, Hyperactivity/Restlessness, Impulsivity/Emotional Lability, Problems with Self-Concept, ADHD Index (to distinguish ADHD adults from non-clinical adults), and Inconsistency Index (to identify random or careless responding) and is rated by someone close to the patient in their daily life such as a spouse, friend, or coworker. The observer is asked to notice the patient carefully and decide how much or how frequently each of the 26 items of the scale describes the patient recently. The response to every question in increasing order of severity is "not at all, never = 0; Just a little, once in a while = 1; Pretty much, often = 2; Very much, very frequently = 3". The total score combined from all the 26 items ranges from 0 to 88.	Baseline 2 to end of Period 3 (end of withdrawal period 40 weeks)
Change From Baseline Period 3 (Baseline 2) to End of Period 3 in ASRS Total Score by Treatment	The ASRS is a self-rating scale designed to assess ADHD symptoms in adults and is now part of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. It consists of 18 items written to reflect the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD and are rated from 0 ("Never") to 4 ("Very often"). The total score ranges from 0 to 72.	Baseline 2 to end of Period 3 (end of withdrawal period 40 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Huss M, Ginsberg Y, Tvedten T, Arngrim T, Philipsen A, Carter K, Chen CW, Kumar V. Methylphenidate hydrochloride modified-release in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Adv Ther. 2014 Jan;31(1):44-65. doi: 10.1007/s12325-013-0085-5. Epub 2013 Dec 27.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): August 1, 2012
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): August 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 11, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 11, 2010
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): December 14, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): October 7, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2014
• Last Verified: September 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Attention Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder, hyperactivity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Dyskinesias; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Hyperkinesis; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; Membrane Transport Modulators; Dopamine Agents; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Methylphenidate
• Other Study ID Numbers: CRIT124D2302; 2010-021533-31 (EUDRACT_NUMBER)