New hope for kids with ADHD who Don't respond to stimulants
NCT ID NCT04085172
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether a long-acting medication called guanfacine (TAK-503) can help children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 with ADHD who did not get better with standard stimulant treatments. The study had two parts: first, participants were randomly assigned to receive guanfacine, another ADHD drug (atomoxetine), or a placebo; then everyone who continued took guanfacine for a year. The main goal was to see if the drug improved reaction time and attention, as measured by a computer test.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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396 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2019
- Finished
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Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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6 to 17 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Study Part A: * Participant is a male or female aged 6 to 17 years inclusive at the time of consent/assent. * Participant must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for a primary diagnosis of ADHD based on a detailed psychiatric evaluation using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) by a trained child and adolescent psychiatrist at screening (Visit 1A). * Participant for whom prior stimulant therapy is not suitable, not tolerated, or shown to be ineffective as determined by investigator clinical assessment and review of the Prior Stimulant Medication Questionnaire (PSMQ) administered during screening (Visit 1A). * Participant has an ADHD-RS-5 total score greater than or equal to (\> =) 28 at baseline (Visit 2A). * Participant has a baseline (Visit 2A) CGI-S score \> = 4. * Participant who is a female of childbearing potential (FOCP) and postmenarchal must have a negative serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) pregnancy test at screening (Visit 1A) and a negative urine pregnancy test at baseline (Visit 2A), be nonlactating, and agree to comply with any applicable contraceptive requirements described in the protocol. Female of child bearing potential is defined as any female participant who is at least aged 9 years or younger than 9 years and postmenarchal. * Participants parent or legally authorized representative (LAR) must provide signature of informed consent. Documentation of assent (if applicable) must be provided by the participant indicating that the participant is aware of the investigational nature of the study and the required procedures and restrictions in accordance with the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guideline E6\[R2\] and applicable regulations, before completing any study-related procedures. * Participant and parent/LAR are willing and able to comply with all the testing and requirements defined in this protocol, including oversight of morning dosing. Specifically, the parent/LAR must be available for the duration of the study to administer the investigational medicinal product (IMP) dose each morning when the participant awakens. * Participant has supine and standing blood pressure (BP) measurements less than the 95th percentile for age, sex, and height at both screening (Visit 1A) and baseline (Visit 2A). * Participant is functioning at an age-appropriate level intellectually, as judged by the investigator. * Participant is able to swallow intact tablets and capsules. Study Part B: * Female participants of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum β-hCG pregnancy test if a screening visit is conducted and/or a negative urine pregnancy test at baseline and agree to comply with any applicable contraceptive requirements of the protocol. An FOCP is defined as any female participant who is at least aged 9 years or younger than 9 years and postmenarchal. * Participant has a supine and standing BP measurement less than the 95th percentile for age, sex, and height. Exclusion Criteria: Study Part A: * Participant has a current, controlled (requiring medication or therapy) or uncontrolled, comorbid psychiatric disorder (except oppositional defiant disorder), including but not limited to any of the following comorbid Axis I and Axis II disorders (the K-SADS-PL should be reviewed to confirm diagnosis, if necessary): 1. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 2. Bipolar illness, psychosis, or family history in either biological parent 3. Pervasive developmental disorder 4. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 5. Psychosis/schizophrenia 6. Serious tic disorder or a family history of Tourette's disorder * Participant is currently considered to be a suicide risk by the investigator; has made a previous suicide attempt; has a history of, or currently demonstrating, active suicidal ideation. * Participant has a substance abuse disorder as defined by DSM-5 criteria or has been suspected of a substance abuse or dependence disorder (except nicotine) within the past 6 months. * Participant has a clinically important abnormality on the urine drug and alcohol screen (except for the participants current ADHD stimulant, if applicable) at screening (Visit 1A). * Participant has been physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abused. * Participant has any other disorder that as judged by the investigator could contraindicate TAK-503 or confound the results of the safety and efficacy assessments. * Participant has any condition or illness including any clinically significant abnormal laboratory value at screening (Visit 1A) or, if the laboratory test was repeated, at baseline (Visit 2A) that, as judged by the investigator, would be an inappropriate risk to the participant and/or could confound the interpretation of study results. * Participant has current abnormal thyroid function, defined as abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine at screening (Visit 1A). Treatment with a stable dose of thyroid medication for \> = 3 months before screening will be permitted. * Participant has a known history or presence of: malignancy (except nonmelanoma skin cancer), pregnancy, and/or a developmental delay or abnormality associated with growth or sexual maturation delays that are not related to ADHD. * Children aged 6 to 12 years with a body weight less than (\<) 25.0 kg or adolescents aged \> = 13 years with a body weight \< 34.0 kg at screening (Visit 1A) or baseline (Visit 2A). * Participant is significantly overweight based on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) BMI-for-age sex-specific charts at screening (Visit 1A) or baseline (Visit 2A). For this study, significantly overweight will be defined as a BMI that is greater than the 95th percentile. * Participant has a known history or presence of: structural cardiac abnormalities, serious heart rhythm abnormalities, syncope, cardiac conduction problems (e.g. clinically significant heart block or QT interval prolongation), bradycardia, or exercise-related cardiac events including syncope and presyncope. * Participant has clinically significant electrocardiogram (ECG) findings, as judged by the investigator, at baseline (Visit 2A). * Participant has orthostatic hypotension\* or a known history of hypertension. (\*Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a sustained reduction of systolic blood pressure of at least 20 millimeter of mercury (mm Hg) or diastolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg within 3 minutes of standing from supine.) * Participant has a known family history of sudden cardiac death or ventricular arrhythmia. * Participant is currently using any medication that violates protocol-specified washout criteria at baseline (Visit 2A), including any ADHD medication or other prohibited medications such as herbal supplements, medications that affect BP or heart rate (HR) or medications that have central nervous system (CNS) effects or affect cognitive performance, such as sedating antihistamines and decongestant sympathomimetics (inhaled bronchodilators are permitted) or a history of chronic use of sedating medications (i.e., antihistamines). * Participant has a medical condition except ADHD that requires treatment with any medication that affects the CNS. * Participant is female and pregnant or currently lactating. * Participant has taken another investigational product or participated in a clinical study within 30 days before screening (Visit 1A). * Participant does not tolerate or has a known or suspected allergy, hypersensitivity, or clinically significant intolerance to guanfacine hydrochloride, atomoxetine, or any TAK-503 or atomoxetine drug product component. * Participant has a history of a seizure disorder (except for a single childhood febrile seizure episode that occurred before the age of 3 years) * Participant is well-controlled on his/her current ADHD medication with acceptable tolerability, and the parent/treating physician does not object to the current medication. * Participant has alanine transaminase (ALT) greater than (\>) 2\*upper limit of normal (ULN) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \>2\*ULN or bilirubin \>1.5\*ULN at screening. Study Part B: * Participant failed screening, voluntarily withdrew, or was discontinued from Study Part A for protocol nonadherence, participant noncompliance, or TEAE or SAE. * Participant had any clinically significant TEAE during Study Part A that, as judged by the investigator, would preclude exposure to TAK-503. * Participant has a history of alcohol or other substance abuse or dependence, as defined by DSM-5 (with the exception of nicotine) within the last 6 months. * Participant currently uses any of the prohibited medication or other medications, including herbal supplements, that affect BP or HR or that have CNS effects or affect cognitive performance, such as sedating antihistamines and decongestant sympathomimetics (inhaled bronchodilators are permitted) or a history of chronic use of sedating medications (i.e. antihistamines) in violation of the protocol-specified washout criteria at baseline. * Participant has a known or suspected allergy, hypersensitivity, or clinically significant intolerance to guanfacine hydrochloride, or any components found in TAK-503. * Participant has taken any IMP except placebo in Study Part A within the 30 days before baseline of Study Part B (Visit 2B). * Participant is significantly overweight based on the CDC BMI-for-age sex-specific charts at screening. Significantly overweight is defined as a BMI \> 95th percentile. * Participant is a child aged 6 to 12 years with a body weight of \< 25.0 kg or an adolescent aged \> = 13 years with a body weight of \< 34.0 kg at screening (Visit 1B) * Participant has any condition or illness including clinically significant abnormal laboratory values at screening which as judged by the investigator would represent an inappropriate risk to the participant and/or confound the interpretation of study results. * Participant is currently considered a suicide risk as judged by the investigator, has previously made a suicide attempt, has a history of, or is currently demonstrating active suicidal ideation. Participants with intermittent passive suicidal ideation are not necessarily excluded based on the assessment of the investigator. * Participant has clinically significant ECG findings, as judged by the investigator, at baseline (Visit 2B). * Participant has a known history or presence of structural cardiac abnormalities, serious heart rhythm abnormalities, syncope, cardiac conduction problems (e.g. clinically significant heart block), exercise-related cardiac events including syncope and presyncope, or clinically significant bradycardia. * Participant has orthostatic hypotension or a known history of hypertension. (\*Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a sustained reduction of systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg within 3 minutes of standing from supine). * Participant has a history of a seizure disorder (except for a single childhood febrile seizure episode that occurred before the age of 3 years) or the presence of a serious tic disorder including Tourette's syndrome. * Participant has a medical condition except ADHD, which requires treatment with any medication that affects the CNS. * Participant has ALT \>2\*ULN or AST \>2\*ULN or bilirubin \>1.5\*ULN at screening.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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AMR Conventions Research, Ltd
Naperville, Illinois, 60563, United States
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Advanced Research Center, Inc.
Anaheim, California, 92805, United States
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Alivation Research, LLC
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68526, United States
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Alliance Research
Long Beach, California, 90807, United States
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Barnneuropsykiatriska enheten, Sahlgrenska University hospital
Gothenburg, 41118, Sweden
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Care Research Center, Inc.
Miami, Florida, 33130, United States
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Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89128, United States
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Centro Clinico Academico 2CA Associacao Braga, Hospital de Braga Piso 1, Ala E
Braga, 4710-243, Portugal
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Centro Hospitalar Universitario Cova da Beira, E.P.E
Covilha, 6200-502, Portugal
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Centro Materno Infantil do Norte (CMIN) Centro Hospitalar Universitario do Porto
Porto, 4099-001, Portugal
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Clinica Dr. Quintero
Madrid, 28002, Spain
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Clinica Universidad de Navarra
Pamplona, Navarre, 31080, Spain
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Clinical Neuroscience Solutions, Inc.
Jacksonville, Florida, 32256, United States
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Clinical Neuroscience Solutions, Inc.
Orlando, Florida, 32801, United States
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Clinical Neuroscience Solutions, Inc.
Memphis, Tennessee, 38119, United States
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Clinical Research Partners, LLC
Petersburg, Virginia, 23805, United States
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Collective Medical Research LLC
Prairie Village, Kansas, 66208, United States
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Complejo Hospitalario de Palencia
Palencia, 34005, Spain
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Corporacio Sanitaria Parc Tauli
Sabadell, 8208, Spain
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Cutting Edge Research Group
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73116, United States
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EB FlevoResearch
Almere Stad, 1311RL, Netherlands
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EB UtrechtResearch
Utrecht, 3562KX, Netherlands
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Family Psychiatry of The Woodlands
The Woodlands, Texas, 77381, United States
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Foyer Saint Francois
Namur, 5000, Belgium
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Harmonex Neuroscience Research
Dothan, Alabama, 36303, United States
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Homestead Medical Research
Homestead, Florida, 33030, United States
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Hospital CUF Descobertas
Lisbon, 1998-018, Portugal
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Hospital Infanta Leonor
Madrid, 28031, Spain
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Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron
Barcelona, 08035, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Fundacion Alcorcon
Madrid, 28922, Spain
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Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira Guimarães
Guimarães, 4835-044, Portugal
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Hospital de Cascais - Dr. José de Almeida
Alcabideche, 2755-009, Portugal
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Instituto Valenciano de Neurología Pediátrica (INVANEP)
Valencia, 46010, Spain
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LKH-Klinikum Graz
Graz, 8036, Austria
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Lister Hospital
Stevenage, SG1 4AB, United Kingdom
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Medizinische Universtität Wien
Vienna, 1090, Austria
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PCSD Feighner Research
San Diego, California, 92108, United States
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PRIMA Barn- och Vuxenpsykiatri AB
Norsborg, 145 67, Sweden
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Qualmedica Research, LLC
Bowling Green, Kentucky, 42101, United States
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Qualmedica Research, LLC
Owensboro, Kentucky, 42301, United States
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Regionhälsan
Mölnlycke, 43530, Sweden
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Rheinhessen-Fachklinik Mainz
Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, 55122, Germany
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Sun Valley Research Center, Inc.
Imperial, California, 92251, United States
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Tayside Children Hospital
Dundee, DD1 9SY, United Kingdom
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UPC KU Leuven Afdeling Kinderpsychiatrie ADHD-raadpleging
Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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UZ Brussel
Brussels, 1090, Belgium
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Universitaetsklinikum Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau, 79104, Germany
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Universitaetsklinikum Koeln
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, 50931, Germany
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University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States
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Zentralinstitut fuer Seelische Gesundheit
Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, 68159, Germany
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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