A report released Wednesday by the National Institutes of Mental Health and Pfizer states a new autism drug known as GRN-529 is showing promise in clinical studies. The drug was used in a recent study of mice that display symptoms similar to those in autistic humans.
According to a report from Boston.com, the drug is one of several new compounds in development meant to inhibit a cell receptor called mGluR5. That receptor is a key contributor in an animal condition called Fragile X, which is similar to autism. Mice given GRN-529 were less likely to display compulsive grooming habits and showed an increase in social behavior as compared to those who did not use the drug.
"Our findings suggest a strategy for developing a single treatment that could target multiple diagnostic symptoms," lead researcher Jacqueline Crawley explained in a statement.
"Many cases of autism are caused by mutations in genes that control an ongoing process - the formation and maturation of synapses, the connections between neurons. If defects in these connections are not hard-wired, the core symptoms of autism may be treatable with medications."
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May 15, 2026 15:25 ET Apart from the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair, the main news on the economics front this week included key price data from the U.S. and the first quarter economic growth figures from major economies. Both consumer prices and producer costs have started to reflect the effect of supply shocks due to the Middle East conflict. In Europe, GDP data was in focus, while inflation data from China dominated the news flow in Asia.