COULD a drug reverse the symptoms of autism? The results of the latest clinical trial are mixed.
At a meeting last week, , in Cambridge, Massachusetts, presented the results of . Called arbaclofen, or STX209, it works by damping down excessive brain activity鈥� a hallmark of autism.
For 12 weeks, 150 people with autism, aged between 5 and 21, received either arbaclofen or a placebo. While the drug failed make any impact on social withdrawal, its main clinical target, it did make recipients more able to respond appropriately to other people.
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鈥淲e strongly believe that STX209 is associated with a real efficacy signal,鈥� says Randall Carpenter, Seaside鈥檚 CEO. 鈥淲e are very hopeful the next trial will have positive results.鈥�
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淎utism drug hope鈥�
