A large clinical trial to test the first drug specifically designed to treat autism is under way at 12 sites across the United States.
Curemark, a 10-person drug research company based in Rye, New York, says the drug, CM-AT, helps children with autism digest proteins. This in turn allows the children to ingest essential amino acids from the proteins, and ultimately produce key brain signaling molecules, company officials say.
For decades, gastrointestinal (GI) issues in children with autism have been a hot topic of debate. Up to 70 percent of children with autism report having GI problems such as stomach pain or constipation, and 60 percent have food selectivity, according to a 2006 study. A highly publicized report last summer, however, found that most of those issues are no more common in children with autism than in healthy children.
Because of this conflicting evidence, as well as the mystery surrounding how CM-AT works, some autism experts are skeptical of Curemark’s claims. Seven independent scientists contacted for this article declined to comment on the trial, citing the dearth of published data and the controversial nature of the therapy’s premise.
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