Serdexmethylphenidate

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an early-onset neurodevelopmental disorder that often extends into adulthood and is characterized by developmentally inappropriate and impaired attention, impulsivity, and motor hyperactivity. The underlying cause of ADHD is unclear but likely involves dysfunction in dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission, as evidenced by the clear beneficial effect of CNS stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine that increase extracellular dopamine and norepinephrine levels. Serdexmethylphenidate is a prodrug of the CNS stimulant dexmethylphenidate, a common first-line treatment for ADHD, that is combined with dexmethylphenidate to provide extended plasma concentrations and therapeutic benefit with once-daily dosing.

Serdexmethylphenidate was granted FDA approval on March 2, 2021, and is currently marketed as a combination capsule with dexmethylphenidate under the trademark AZSTARYS™ by KemPharm, Inc.