Binge eating treatment is tasty for Shire

News that its binge eating disorder treatment has passed clinical trials sent shares in Shire soaring to an intraday high yesterday.

The amphetamine-based drug Vyvanse is already used to treat American students with ADHD but has now been shown to be effective in cutting the number of days per week when people with eating disorders feel the need to binge.

"We are extremely pleased with these results," said chief executive Flemming Ornskov.

"Binge Eating Disorder is a condition for which there is no currently approved pharma-cologic treatment and yet there is significant unmet patient need, as was demonstrated with the faster-than-expected enrolment of participants in our clinical trial programme."

Shares in Shire surged to a record 2,892p in early trade before settling at 2,858p, up 38p. The company said the trials were completed earlier than expected and it would now seek approval from US regulators to use Vyvanse to treat BED.