Targeted Medical Pharma, Inc. announced additional preliminary findings from an investigator initiated clinical observation of amino acid based medical foods to address specific nutrient deficiencies in children and young adults with autism spectrum disease (ASD) symptoms. 34 subjects including 29 children and 5 young adults ages seven to twenty-one who were diagnosed with ASD or suffering from related symptoms including explosive behavior, social isolation, and mood disorder were treated with an amino acid based formulation for one to several months. The investigators reported that 33 of the subjects were initial responders and demonstrated significant improvement with regards to decreased disruptive outbursts, improved socialization, improved mood and reduction in drug dose. Patients with explosive outbursts improved an average of 83% compared to baseline.

The five adults reported improved mood and reduction of anxiety from 50% to 90% and in one case a 100% reduction in symptoms of mania. The investigators caution that the sample for adults is small and that an additional four cases were lost to follow-up.