The “first-in-patient” drug trial that addresses social withdrawal and challenging behaviours in the fragile X syndrome may also be a therapeutic intervention for people on the autism spectrum.

Researchers found that the effects of the drug compound STX 209 affected core symptoms, and not the secondary symptoms associated with both fragile X and autism.

Due to similarities in certain behaviours of both fragile X and autism sufferers, researchers are also confident that the STX 209 compound will help autism sufferers without fragile X.