Wrong Planet - Drug hope for intestinal ailment

Anonymous writes "A Florence company that specializes in developing medicine for children said today it has made an acquisition that could lead to a new drug for autistic children with intestinal ailments.
Last September, Protein said tests showed promise for one of its drugs, called Oralgam, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in children. Those tests are continuing. In its announcement today, PediaMed expressed most interest in a Protein-owned experimental drug for gastrointestinal inflammation in autistic children.
The condition is common among autistic children, and there is no known cure. The drug is beginning more exhaustive phase II clinical trials.
"With autism growing at a rate of 10 to 17 percent per year, we look forward to tackling a category that disrupts the lives of so many families," said PediaMed president Cameron Durrant. "Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with autism are debilitating physically, emotionally and socially.
"Our acquisition is an important step in building our capacity to conduct clinical research in this significant therapeutic area," he said. "