Another front group is Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), promoting itself as “the world’s leading adult ADHD organization.” It has strong financial ties to Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals.

• The group’s Board of Directors are paid consultants for McNeill Pediatrics, a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals (Johnson and Johnson). Evelyn Polk-Green, current president of ADDA and paid by McNeil Pediatrics, is also past president of the CHADD National Board of Directors.^[1]

• On April 22 2009, Ortho-McNeil, maker of Concerta issued a press release estimating that 9 million adults had ADHD—up from 8 million several years earlier.^[2] By August 17, the estimation had inexplicably risen to 10 million adults.^[3]

Concerta experienced a 37.9% sales growth, reaching $695 million in 2004. In the first-half 2005, Concerta sales were up 22.2% to $396 million.^[4] Safety concerns hurt Concerta sales in the fourth quarter of 2008, when sales were $284 million.^[5]

• To boost sales, in September 2009 McNeil announced a mobile service called “ADHD Resource in the Palm of Your Hand.”^[6] The press release stated, “By texting ‘ADHD’ to 87415 on any mobile device—such as a cell phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or handheld computer—consumers can access the CONCERTA Mobile Web. The resource includes background on ADHD in children and adults, an interactive symptom screener from the World Health Organization (WHO), video testimonials from families impacted by ADHD, information on CONCERTA treatment as well as a CONCERTA coupon offer. The CONCERTA Mobile Web also offers one-click convenience to speak with trained professionals about general ADHD and treatment questions at the Concerta ADHD Support Center (also available by calling 1-877-324-ADHD).”^[7]

The McNeil press release also points out the huge potential market: “Among the audience of 63.2 million people who accessed news and information on their mobile devices in January 2009, 22.4 million (35%) did so daily; more than double the size of the audience last year.”^[8]

[1] “Adults ‘Facing’ ADHD: ADHD Allies™ Offers Unique Online Community for Adults with ADHD on New Facebook^® Page,” http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/concerta/36533/; ADDA Board of Directors, ADDA website.

[2]“ADHD Allies™ Offers Unique Online Community for Adults with ADHD on New Facebook^® Page,” http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/concerta/36533/.

[3] “Shire Initiates Two Adult ADHD Outreach Programs,” http://www.shire.com/shire/mobile/news/newsItem.jsp?ref=1036.

[4] http://www.pharmalive.com/magazines/medad/view.cfm?articleID=2478.

[5] http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE59C24V20091013.

[6] http://www.mcneilpediatrics.net/mcneilpediatrics/assets/MobileWebPressReleaseFINALforTG.PDF.

[7] http://www.mcneilpediatrics.net/mcneilpediatrics/assets/MobileWebPressReleaseFINALforTG.PDF; http://www.mmm-online.com/mcneil-mobilizes-adhd-awareness-in-nyc/article/155466/.

[8] http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4PRN/is_2009_Sept_9/ai_n35637992/.