Pharmaceuticals group Shire has halted development of its top-selling hyperactivity drug Vyvanse as a treatment for depression after it failed to treat patients successfully in two late-stage clinical trials. The news sent the drugmaker's high-flying shares down by about 2 per cent to £30.80, but they rebounded to finish at £31.22.

Amphetamine-based Vyvanse, prescribed to US students to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, did not ease symptoms significantly when given as an add-on therapy for adults who had responded inadequately to two common types of antidepressants, Shire said late on Thursday.

London-listed Shire said it would no longer pursue the clinical development programme. Chief executive Flemming Ornskov said the news was “disappointing”. – (Reuters)