25 FEBRUARY 2002 London, UK -- A new, once-daily treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Concerta XL (methylphenidate HCl), has been approved in the United Kingdom, the first European Union country to license the product. Other regulatory reviews of the Janssen-Cilag medication are planned in the remainder of the European Union, and are in process in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

It is estimated that ADHD affects 3-10 percent of school-age children. ADHD is characterised by a persistent inability to concentrate and pay attention, as well as by chronic hyperactivity and uncontrolled impulsiveness. The long-term results may include dysfunctional relationships with family and peers, poor academic achievement, and difficulty in obtaining and keeping gainful employment later in life. Medication is often part of a comprehensive management programme, including social, family and educational interventions.

"ADHD can cause serious disruptions in children's home and school lives, preventing their ability to perform well academically, be accepted by their peers and to integrate into their families," says Dr. Peter Hoare, an expert in ADHD at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, Scotland. "ADHD requires proper diagnosis and consistent, ongoing intervention. An effective, once-daily medication can increase initial acceptance of medical treatment and improve longer-term compliance."

Research has shown that Concerta can effectively control ADHD symptoms for 12 hours in adolescents and children as young as age six. This eliminates the need to take medication for the condition during school or extracurricular activities -- a routine that can be difficult to follow and have a negative impact on children's self-esteem. Concerta offers the most sustained relief of any form of methyphenidate -- the active ingredient in Concerta and the
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Contact: Carrie Monaghan
carrie.monaghan@ketchum.com
44-20-7611-3613
Ketchum
25-Feb-2002