ADHD pill maker’s earnings soar on prescription surge
First-quarter earnings excluding some items were $1.48 per American depositary receipt, compared with $1.23 a year earlier, Dublin-headquartered Shire said in a statement. The average estimate from 12 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was $1.49.
The maker of the Adderall hyperactivity pill has benefited from an expansion of the market for drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, helping lift sales 21% to $1.17bn. The firm has been widening the use of Vyvanse since the pill won US approval to treat children ages six to 12 in 2007. Vyvanse is also cleared to treat adolescents and adults with ADHD, and the drug looks promising in the treatment of binge-eating.
