WINK-TV Ft. Myers : Researchers are recruiting more than 300 young children ages 2 1/2 to 5 who will receive 6 doses of the drug Secretin or a placebo over a 20 week period.

The FDA recently granted fast-track approval to Secretin because it's said to improve the social interaction in children with Autism. Earlier studies reveal that Secretin appears promising and currently researchers at 20 medical facilities across the nation will enroll patients in this phase 3 clinical trial.

"During the study the children will be evaluated before and after treatment with Secretin using standardized autism diagnostic tools in which we will focus specifically on changes in social interaction and communication. During the study, the children will be evaluated by psychologists as well as their parents," explains Karen Jauregui of Repligen Corportation.

For more information or if you want to enroll your child, call Alachua Family Psychiatry at 352-333-0094 or Miami's Children's Hospital at 305-663-6802.

 

Back