CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seaside Therapeutics today announced the publication of a review paper detailing the evolving scientific and drug development landscape for fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability and the most common known cause of autism. The cognitive impairment associated with fragile X syndrome and other intellectual disabilities has long been considered permanent and untreatable, and drug development efforts have largely focused on relieving the symptoms of these disorders rather than correcting the underlying cause(s). This review article draws upon more than 100 studies to propose a paradigm shift in the approach to drug development for intellectual disabilities based on a new-found understanding of the core pathophysiology of fragile X syndrome. This paper highlights a number of recent scientific advances in understanding the genetic and biologic causes of fragile X syndrome, which are informing the development of novel therapeutic candidates to address the root cognitive deficits of fragile X. This work may have application to the treatment of other neurodevelopmental disorders.
