Akili stock surges ~40% after video game EndeavorRx shows benefit in ADHD adults
Vertigo3d
Akili (NASDAQ:AKLI) stock rose ~38% on Wednesday after the company reported results from a trial of video game-based therapy EndeavorRx to treat adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
EndeavorRx is currently authorized by the FDA to treat inattention in children aged 8 to 12 years with ADHD.
The study, dubbed STARS-ADHD-Adult — which enrolled 221 adults 18 years of age and older— showed statistically significant improvement in attention functioning after six weeks of therapy, achieving its main efficacy outcome, according to Akili.
The company added that attention improved in more than 80% of adults with ADHD, and over one-third of participants no longer showing an attention deficit following therapy.
Akili said that improvements in attention were nearly seven times larger than those seen in study that supported EndeavorRx's FDA authorization in the 8-12 year olds.
"Not only did the benefit of EndeavorRx in adults with ADHD exceed what we’ve seen in kids and adolescents, adults using the treatment experienced meaningful improvements in their quality of life," said Akili's Chief Medical Officer Scott Kollins.
Significant improvements were also seen across several secondary and exploratory outcomes, including clinical assessments of ADHD-related symptoms and a validated measure of quality of life.
About 45.8% of adults treated with EndeavorRx met a threshold for clinically meaningful improvement in their quality of life, as per the company.
About 83% patients showed a clinical response to the treatment on the TOVA-ACS (post hoc analysis as measured by at least a 1.4 improvement on TOVA - Test of Variables of Attention)
In addition, Akili said that 36.6% of adults moved into the non-clinical, or normative, range.
About 70% of the adults in the study were women.