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San Diego Autism Researchers Are Testing A New Use For An Old Drug

San Diego Autism Researchers Are Testing A New Use For An Old Drug
UC San Diego is launching a clinical trial to test a century-old drug in patients with autism.

In the first human study of its kind, UC San Diego is launching a clinical trial to test a century-old drug in patients with autism.

Researchers are recruiting 20 patients to see if a drug called suramin — which has been used to treat African sleeping sickness since the early 20th century — can improve autism symptoms in humans.

So far, suramin has shown promise in mice. For a study published last year, UC San Diego School of Medicine professor Robert Naviaux injected the drug into mice with signs of autism. He and his colleagues saw improvements in metabolic function and social behavior.

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"Mice that have been treated with suramin begin exploring again and no longer have a fear of novelty," said Naviaux.

Naviaux will oversee a phase one trial with a small group of subjects, to find out if suramin is also effective in people with autism. Participants must be boys between the ages of four and 17, who live in San Diego County and are not taking any prescription medications.

Half of the enrolled patients will receive a single injection of suramin; the others will receive a placebo. Follow-up sessions will track improvements in brain function and a patient's ability to overcome language and social barriers.

"We're trying to see if suramin helps to bring down some of those barriers so that children can engage in natural play and practice the basic skills of social interaction," said Naviaux.

Parents interested in enrolling their children should contact Jeanne Townsend at jtownsend@ucsd.edu or by phone at 858-246-1932.

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Funding for the trial comes from private donors and the Autism Research Institute. The researchers expect results in about nine months.