A drug used to control ADHD may also help control binge-eating disorder (BED), according to a clinical trial in London.
Pharmaceutical group Shire PLC has tested a drug called Vyvanse in an attempt to reduce the effects of binge-eating disorder. The drug is currently prescribed to control ADHD.
“We are extremely pleased with these results,” said Flemming Ornskov, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, in a press release. “BED is a condition for which there is no currently approved pharmacologic treatment and yet there is significant unmet patient need, as was demonstrated with the faster than expected enrollment of participants in our clinical trial program.”
While the drug is currently available in the United States for ADHD treatment, the company is in the process of obtaining necessary approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for using the treatment to control some forms of BED.
FDA approval for the use of Vyvanse as a treatment option for BED is expected in 2014 after more testing is complete.
BED is estimated to affect approximately 3 million people in the United States. Many patients are undiagnosed.
Since there are currently no specific pharmaceutical products to treat BED, treatment generally includes ongoing therapy and a combination of other medications that may help with underlying or compounding effects of anxiety and/ or depression.
Health risks associated with BED are often aligned with the health risks of obesity. Heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are among the potential dangers caused by binge-eating.
Carrying out clinical trials according to best practice protocol can yield important results for patients and healthcare providers who are looking for new treatment options for a wide range of health challenges.
As teams of researchers continue to work across disciplines in an effort to address today’s complex medical problems, highly skilled problem-solvers with strong education and training will be needed to assist in conducting research both in the U.S. and abroad.
, according to a clinical trial in London.){kind=link}