Century-Old Drug Reverses Signs of Autism In Mice 207
sciencehabit writes: A single dose of a century-old drug has eliminated autism symptoms in adult mice with an experimental form of the disorder. Originally developed to treat African sleeping sickness, the compound, called suramin, quells a heightened stress response in neurons that researchers believe may underlie some traits of autism. The finding raises the hope that some hallmarks of the disorder may not be permanent, but could be correctable even in adulthood.
Can a company patent it? (Score:5, Insightful)
Gaining a drug's approval by the Food and Drug Administration in the US — and similar government agencies in other countries — is a very expensive process. The expense is normally offset for by the patent(s) granted to the pharmaceutical company, that developed the drug, which make it an exclusive maker/seller of the medicine for decades.
However, if the drug is long-known — and only needs an approval for new application — who will undertake to pay for the approval, if there is no way to patent it and the approval will allow all drug-makers (both domestic and foreign) to put their own versions on the market?
Good news for Mice. (Score:4, Insightful)
How about people?
Godsend (Score:5, Insightful)
As someone with Aspergers Syndrome this would be a godsend for me. There are many times where my adrenaline level is far above what is needed for the situation. It is extremely frustrating when most of my body is in full fight/flight response and there is a small voice in the back of my head saying "chill out dude, it's not that important". The problem is that the adrenal response usually overrides the cognitive response and bad things happen.
I just hope it does not impact the good things about autism such as the heightened ability to find and keep track of details.
Re:Well, so much for slashdot (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Where the fuck did people get the idea that.... (Score:4, Insightful)
When I have a teenaged nephew who can't form coherent sentences on a regular basis let alone ever live an independent life? Yeah, I think I get to represent his condition as something being wrong.
That's fine if you have this condition (or whatever you'd like to call it) and you're OK with the quality of your life but don't be making that decision for others. I have a bad hip, do you think it would be "wrong" of me to condemn anyone else who has a bad hip who's ready to seek medical treatment to make their life's situation easier for them? Or how about someone with Parkinson's? What about someone who is Bipolar? Where do you get off making the decision for others as to when their life works for them?
How about you stop trying to hunt for ways to make people who want to alter their life's condition via the use of medications seem like they're wrong for not embracing what makes them "unique and special"?
Re:Where the fuck did people get the idea that.... (Score:4, Insightful)
It's one thing to be "unique".
It's a completely different one to be SO "unique" that others shun you for being "weird", with you not even knowing WHY you are. And that you only get "weirder" if you try to mimic them to blend in somehow.
Re:Where the fuck did people get the idea that.... (Score:4, Insightful)
I have Asperger's Syndrome and "normal" is not my goal. In fact, if I was neurotypical I would not be as skilled a programmer. I would like to control the situations where the Asperger's gets in the way of doing something I want to do. Too many time by body has been in full fight/flight and a small voice in my mind has said "Chill out dude. It not that important". The fight response has lost me a few jobs. Controlling the extremes is far from being "normal".