Evaluation of recent patent applications for the diagnosis and treatment of autism and pervasive developmental disorders

Abstract

This review covers patent literature for new targets, biomarkers and potential drugs for the treatment of autism and related pervasive developmental disorders, for patent applications published between 2000 and mid-year 2005. Recent studies into the underlying genetic aetiology of autism has resulted in a number of potential targets for drug development. Less research is being carried out in the clinical examination of agents specifically designed to treat autism. Nonetheless, promising leads in target and drug discovery have been discovered over the course of the time period examined.

Keywords::

• glutein
• oxytocin
• pervasive development disorder
• secretin
• serotonin