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Axsome Therapeutics Initiates FOCUS-3 Phase 3 Trial of Solriamfetol in Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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Axsome Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AXSM) has dosed the first patient in its FOCUS-3 Phase 3 trial of solriamfetol for adolescents with ADHD. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study will enroll about 468 patients aged 12 to under 18 years, treated for 6 weeks. The primary endpoint is change from baseline to week 6 in ADHD-RS-5 total score.

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News Market Reaction – AXSM

+1.83%
+1.83% Session close to close

In the Jun 26 session, AXSM gained 1.83%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement advances solriamfetol into a Phase 3 ADHD program in adolescents, expanding Axsome...
Analysis

This announcement advances solriamfetol into a Phase 3 ADHD program in adolescents, expanding Axsome’s CNS pipeline. With mixed historical reactions to clinical news and modest short interest, future readouts and trial execution remain key watchpoints.

Key Figures

Planned enrollment: 468 patients Randomization ratio: 1:1:1 Treatment duration: 6 weeks +1 more
4 metrics
Planned enrollment 468 patients FOCUS-3 Phase 3 ADHD trial in adolescents
Randomization ratio 1:1:1 Two solriamfetol doses vs placebo over double-blind period
Treatment duration 6 weeks Double-blind treatment period in FOCUS-3 trial
Age range 12 to <18 years Adolescent ADHD population in FOCUS-3 trial

Previous Clinical trial Reports

5 past events · Latest: Feb 24 (Positive)
Same Type Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Feb 24 Phase 3 initiation Positive -2.8% First patient dosed in CLARITY Phase 3 solriamfetol trial for MDD with EDS.
Jan 15 Phase 3 initiation Positive -1.6% First patient dosed in FORWARD Phase 3 AXS-14 fibromyalgia management trial.
Dec 31 Priority review granted Positive +22.8% FDA acceptance and Priority Review of sNDA for AXS-05 in Alzheimer’s agitation.
Dec 31 Pre-NDA feedback Positive +22.8% FDA pre-NDA meeting minutes support AXS-12 NDA filing for narcolepsy cataplexy.
Apr 04 Pivotal data presented Positive -8.4% Positive pivotal Phase 3 AXS-05 and AXS-12 data presented at AAN 2025 meeting.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Clinical and regulatory CNS updates have produced mixed reactions, with some large upside moves but frequent downside divergence on otherwise positive news.

Key Terms

phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, +2 more
6 terms
phase 3 clinical
"FOCUS-3 (Forward Treatment of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Using Solriamfetol) is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind"
Phase 3 is the late-stage clinical testing step for a new drug or medical treatment, where the product is given to large groups of patients to confirm effectiveness, monitor side effects, and compare it to standard care. Successful Phase 3 results are often the final scientific hurdle before regulators decide on approval and market launch—like passing a final exam before graduation—and can sharply change a company's valuation and future revenue prospects.
randomized clinical
"FOCUS-3 ... is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial"
Randomized means participants or units in a study are assigned to different groups by chance rather than by choice, like flipping a coin to decide who gets a new treatment and who gets a comparison. For investors, randomized designs matter because they reduce bias and make results more trustworthy, so outcomes from randomized studies carry more weight when assessing regulatory approval, commercial prospects, and the risk that trial results will change a company’s valuation.
double-blind clinical
"is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial"
A double-blind process means that neither the people conducting an activity nor the people involved know certain key details, such as who is receiving a treatment or a placebo. This approach helps prevent bias from influencing the results, making the outcome more trustworthy. For investors, it ensures that decisions or judgments are based on unbiased information rather than preconceived opinions or expectations.
placebo-controlled clinical
"randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to assess the efficacy and safety"
"Placebo-controlled" describes a testing method where one group receives the actual treatment or intervention, while another group receives a harmless, inactive version called a placebo. This approach helps determine whether the real treatment has genuine effects beyond psychological expectations. For investors, understanding this ensures confidence that reported benefits are real and not influenced by bias or false perceptions.
multicenter clinical
"double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to assess the efficacy and safety"
A multicenter study or trial is conducted at several independent locations or clinics rather than a single site, so researchers collect data from diverse groups and settings. For investors, multicenter designs matter because they increase the credibility and generalizability of results, reduce the risk that findings are due to one local population or practice, and often speed enrollment — all factors that can affect regulatory outcomes, market confidence and commercial prospects.
adhd rating scale (adhd-rs-5) clinical
"The primary endpoint will be the change from baseline to week 6 in the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-5) total score."
A standardized questionnaire clinicians use to measure how often and how severely a person shows attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms, producing a numerical score like a scorecard for behavior. It is built around current diagnostic criteria and commonly used in clinical care and trials. Investors care because it often serves as a measurable endpoint in drug and device studies — changes in the score can influence regulatory approval, labeling, and market value.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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NEW YORK, June 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM), a biopharmaceutical company leading a new era in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the FOCUS-3 Phase 3 trial evaluating solriamfetol as a treatment for adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

FOCUS-3 (Forward Treatment of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Using Solriamfetol) is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to assess the efficacy and safety of solriamfetol in adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 years with ADHD. Approximately 468 patients will be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive one of two doses of solriamfetol or placebo for 6 weeks. The primary endpoint will be the change from baseline to week 6 in the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-5) total score.

About Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurobiological and developmental disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, that interferes with functioning or development.1 Impairments in cognition are apparent in attention, planning and problem solving, working memory, and behavioral inhibition.2,3 An estimated 15.5 million adults and 7 million children in the U.S. are affected by ADHD,4,5 with approximately two-thirds or more of children with ADHD continuing to experience symptoms into adulthood.6 The total annual societal excess cost associated with adult ADHD in the U.S. has been estimated at over $120 billion.7

About Solriamfetol

Solriamfetol is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DNRI), TAAR1 agonist, and 5-HT1A agonist being developed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD) with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), binge eating disorder (BED), and excessive sleepiness associated with shift work disorder (SWD).

About Axsome Therapeutics

Axsome Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company leading a new era in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) conditions. We deliver scientific breakthroughs by identifying critical gaps in care and develop differentiated products with a focus on novel mechanisms of action that enable meaningful advancements in patient outcomes. Our industry-leading neuroscience portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for major depressive disorder, agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine, as well as multiple novel product candidates addressing a broad range of serious neurological and psychiatric conditions that impact over 150 million people in the United States. Together, we are on a mission to solve some of the brain’s biggest problems so patients and their loved ones can flourish. For more information, please visit us at www.axsome.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements”. The Company may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. In particular, the Company’s statements regarding trends and potential future results are examples of such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the commercial success of the Company’s SUNOSI®, AUVELITY®, and SYMBRAVO® products and the success of the Company’s efforts to obtain any additional indication(s) with respect to solriamfetol and/or AXS-05; the Company’s ability to maintain and expand payer coverage; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund the Company’s disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected revenues or expenses), futility analyses and receipt of interim results, which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials, and/or data readouts, and the number or type of studies or nature of results necessary to support the filing of a new drug application (“NDA”) for any of the Company’s current product candidates; the Company’s ability to fund additional clinical trials to continue the advancement of the Company’s product candidates; the timing of and the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other regulatory authority approval of, or other action with respect to, the Company’s product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of any NDA submission; the Company’s ability to successfully defend its intellectual property or obtain the necessary licenses at a cost acceptable to the Company, if at all; the Company’s ability to successfully resolve any intellectual property litigation, and even if such disputes are settled, whether the applicable federal agencies will approve of such settlements; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations; the success of the Company’s license agreements; the acceptance by the market of the Company’s products and product candidates, if approved; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the amount of capital required for the commercialization of SUNOSI, AUVELITY, and SYMBRAVO and for the Company’s commercial launch of its other product candidates, if approved, and the potential impact on the Company’s anticipated cash runway; the Company’s ability to convert sales to recognized revenue and maintain a favorable gross to net sales; unforeseen circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from or related to domestic political climate, geo-political conflicts or a global pandemic and other factors, including general economic conditions and regulatory developments, not within the Company’s control. The factors discussed herein could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Investors:

Ashley Dong
Senior Director, Investor Relations
(929) 687-1614
adong@axsome.com

Media:
Darren Opland
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
(929) 837-1065
dopland@axsome.com

References:

  1. American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5 ed., Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2013.
  2. Brown TE. ADD/ADHD and Impaired Executive Function in Clinical Practice. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2008 Oct;10(5):407-11.
  3. Nestler E., Hyman S., and Malenka R. Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience, Second Edition, 2nd ed., New York: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008.
  4. Facts About ADHD in Adults. CDC. 2024.
  5. Data and Statistics on ADHD. CDC. 2024.
  6. Sibley MH et al. Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD. Am J Psychiatry. 2022 Feb;179(2):142-151.
  7. Schein J et al. Economic burden of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among adults in the United States: a societal perspective. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2022 Feb;28(2):168-179.

FAQ

What is Axsome Therapeutics' FOCUS-3 Phase 3 trial for solriamfetol in ADHD (NASDAQ:AXSM)?

FOCUS-3 is a Phase 3 trial evaluating solriamfetol in adolescents with ADHD. According to Axsome Therapeutics, it is randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and multicenter, designed to assess efficacy and safety over 6 weeks in patients aged 12 to under 18 years.

How many patients will be enrolled in Axsome's FOCUS-3 Phase 3 ADHD trial of solriamfetol?

Axsome Therapeutics plans to enroll approximately 468 adolescent patients in FOCUS-3. According to Axsome Therapeutics, participants will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive one of two solriamfetol doses or placebo for 6 weeks, enabling comparison of efficacy and safety across treatment arms.

What is the primary endpoint of Axsome Therapeutics' FOCUS-3 ADHD trial for solriamfetol?

The primary endpoint is change from baseline to week 6 in ADHD-RS-5 total score. According to Axsome Therapeutics, this endpoint will measure how solriamfetol affects overall ADHD symptom severity in adolescents compared with placebo during the 6-week treatment period.

What age group is included in Axsome's FOCUS-3 Phase 3 solriamfetol ADHD study (AXSM)?

FOCUS-3 includes adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 years with ADHD. According to Axsome Therapeutics, these participants will be randomized to receive solriamfetol or placebo for 6 weeks, allowing evaluation of efficacy and safety specifically in this adolescent age range.

When did Axsome Therapeutics begin dosing patients in the FOCUS-3 ADHD trial of solriamfetol?

Axsome Therapeutics announced first patient dosing in the FOCUS-3 trial on June 26, 2026. According to Axsome Therapeutics, this marks the operational start of the Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study in adolescents with ADHD.