The CDC estimates that one in 59 children in the U.S. are on the autism spectrum. Right now, there are no FDA approved treatments for the disorder or its symptoms, which can include difficulty with social skills, communication and repetitive behavior. That’s why results of a small clinical trial have grabbed the attention of researchers and families.

Robert K. Naviaux, MD, PhD, Professor of Genetics at the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Pathology, and Co-director of the Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center at UC San Diego School of Medicine suspected the cause of autism might be metabolic dysfunction, where the energy molecule ATP is “outside” cells. He researched more than two thousand drugs and found one that might help. That drug was Suramin. Dr. Naviaux tested one dose in a clinical trial of ten boys. Five got the drug.

Dr. Naviaux  shared, “Children began to talk sometimes for the first time in sentences in their life.”

He said boys who got Suramin had autism severity scores drop from eight-point-six to seven, the lowest point on the spectrum. They improved social, language and fine motor skills, and found relief from repetitive motions and fragmented sleep.

Miles McInerney was in the trial but did not receive Suramin; he still wanted to help.

“I should generally be interested in the ability to possibly find a way that people with worse autism or struggle more with autism than I do, to possibly be able to find a solution that can help them better communicate,” said McInerney.

He now uses rowing to reduce the stress related to his autism.

For those who did get the drug, Dr. Naviaux says most but not all the effects wore off in eight weeks.

“Some children had learned to tie their shoes for the first time, and other children had learned to zip up a jacket. Those fine motors skills were motor memory that had been retained.” Dr. Naviaux continued.

Miles and his mother are encouraged by the results.

Dr. Naviaux says next there will be several phase two trials to determine safety and efficacy for Suramin. He suspects it will be three to five years before phase three trials begin.