Autism study adds two locations in California

By Staff Writer

A drug research and development company recently announced that it will add two test sites for its autism research study.

Curemark, which focuses on treatment for people with neurological diseases, will open locations in San Francisco and Santa Ana, California. The expansion is part of the clinical trial program called CM-AT, which has targeted enzyme deficiencies in autistic children that affect brain function. The program has received Fast Track status from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The CM-AT trial now has several locations in California and 15 sites across the U.S., with a targeted goal of 170 children participating in the study. Curemark's founder said that his company will try to open more sites in the near future.

If approved, CM-AT will be one of the first therapies to address the underlying physical symptoms of autism.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the median age of earliest autism diagnosis is between 4.5 and 5.5 years old. Studies have shown that about one-third of parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have noticed a developmental problem before their child's first birthday.

The CDC reports that the estimated lifetime cost to care for an individual with an ASD is $3.2 million.