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SPD503 (1 mg)

Shire · Phase 3 active Small molecule Under review

SPD503 (1 mg) is a Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor Small molecule drug developed by Shire. It is currently in Phase 3 development for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma. Also known as: Guanfacine hydrochloride.

SPD503 is a selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor that reduces inflammatory mediator production by increasing intracellular cAMP levels.

SPD503, a medication containing guanfacine hydrochloride, is being studied for its potential to treat ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety, Separation, Phobia, and Social Phobia. It is administered as an extended-release formulation, with clinical trials comparing it to a placebo and extended-release guanfacine hydrochloride.

Likelihood of approval
59.3% vs 58.3% industry baseline
If approved by FDA: likely 2028–2030
Steps remaining: NDA/BLA submission
Confidence: High
Why this estimate
  • Baseline phase 3 → approval rate +58.3pp
    Industry-wide phase 3 drugs reach approval ~58.3% of the time (BIO/Informa 2023 industry benchmark across all therapeutic areas).
  • Immunology slight uplift +1.0pp
    Mature endpoint landscape (ACR, DAS28, PASI) makes immunology approvals slightly more predictable.
Predicted approval windows by jurisdiction (conditional on FDA approval)
Regulator Country Likely year Lag vs FDA
FDA US 2028–2030
EMA EU 2029–2031 +0.7 yr
MHRA GB 2029–2031 +0.7 yr
Health Canada CA 2029–2032 +0.9 yr
TGA AU 2029–2032 +1.2 yr
PMDA JP 2029–2032 +1.5 yr
NMPA CN 2030–2033 +2.3 yr
MFDS KR 2029–2032 +1.4 yr
CDSCO IN 2029–2033 +1.8 yr
ANVISA BR 2030–2033 +2.3 yr

Hover any row for the lag rationale. Lag estimates are reduced when the drug has FDA Breakthrough or EMA PRIME designation (sponsors file globally in parallel).

Estimate based on the BIO/Informa industry phase transition rates plus per-drug modifiers for therapeutic area, sponsor type, FDA designations, mechanism, and trial design. Per-jurisdiction lags from Tufts CSDD international approval studies. Not investment, clinical or regulatory advice. Methodology: /methodology#likelihood.

At a glance

Generic nameSPD503 (1 mg)
Also known asGuanfacine hydrochloride
SponsorShire
Drug classPhosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor
TargetPDE4
ModalitySmall molecule
Therapeutic areaRespiratory / Immunology
PhasePhase 3

Mechanism of action

PDE4 inhibition leads to accumulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in immune and inflammatory cells, suppressing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This mechanism reduces airway inflammation and mucus production, making it suitable for respiratory inflammatory conditions. The selective PDE4 inhibition aims to provide anti-inflammatory benefits with potentially improved tolerability compared to non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

Approved indications

Common side effects

Key clinical trials

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

SourceUsed for
ClinicalTrials.govTrial enrolment, design, endpoints, results

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

Frequently asked questions about SPD503 (1 mg)

What is SPD503 (1 mg)?

SPD503 (1 mg) is a Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor drug developed by Shire, indicated for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma.

How does SPD503 (1 mg) work?

SPD503 is a selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor that reduces inflammatory mediator production by increasing intracellular cAMP levels.

What is SPD503 (1 mg) used for?

SPD503 (1 mg) is indicated for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma.

Who makes SPD503 (1 mg)?

SPD503 (1 mg) is developed by Shire (see full Shire pipeline at /company/shire).

Is SPD503 (1 mg) also known as anything else?

SPD503 (1 mg) is also known as Guanfacine hydrochloride.

What drug class is SPD503 (1 mg) in?

SPD503 (1 mg) belongs to the Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor class. See all Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor drugs at /class/phosphodiesterase-4-pde4-inhibitor.

What development phase is SPD503 (1 mg) in?

SPD503 (1 mg) is in Phase 3.

What are the side effects of SPD503 (1 mg)?

Common side effects of SPD503 (1 mg) include Nausea, Diarrhea, Headache, Tremor.

What does SPD503 (1 mg) target?

SPD503 (1 mg) targets PDE4 and is a Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor.

Related

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing