December 14, 2004
WEST SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 14, 2004 -- Lipomics Technologies, Inc., a privately held company that develops tools for assessing and understanding complex metabolic conditions using proprietary technologies for lipid metabolite analysis and interpretation, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Cure Autism Now for a new biomarker study in children with autism and related disorders. Results from this study may offer clues about the causes of autism and may lead to better therapeutics for this and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Building on previous research, Lipomics will produce extensive lipomic profiles of children with autism, their siblings, and age-matched controls to identify metabolic signatures of the disorder. Samples analyzed in this study will be collected by Cure Autism Now’s DNA repository—the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE).
“Deficiencies of lipid metabolism could be related to some of the physiological symptoms found in autism,” said Clara Lajonchere, Ph.D., AGRE Program Director. “The data generated by Lipomics will contribute important new biological information to the growing body of research available to scientists worldwide through AGRE. The results may offer promising clues to understanding the causes of autism. Cure Autism Now hopes to replicate and extend its initial findings by using the expertise that Lipomics provides.”
“Autism is increasing in prevalence, but its causes and cures have remained elusive,” said Dr. Tom Anderson, president and CEO of Lipomics. “By applying our specialized knowledge and understanding of lipid biology, we hope to contribute valuable new understanding to the search for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment options.”
About Autism
Autism affects an estimated one in every 166 children in the United States. Autism is characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interactions, and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Until recently, autism was considered a lifelong, incurable disorder. However, with early identification and intensive intervention and treatment, the outcomes of children with autism can be significantly improved.