Yamo Pharmaceuticals Presents Results from Phase 2 Study

Yamo Pharmaceuticals, LLC recently announced the presentation of results from a Phase 2 study with L1-79 in the treatment of ASD. A poster, titled An Open Label and Double Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Pilot Study of L1-79 [D,L Alpha-Methyl-Para-Tyrosine (DL-AMPT)] for the Treatment of the Core Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Adolescent and Young Adult Males, was presented on May 3 at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada. The INSAR is a scientific and professional organization devoted to advancing knowledge about autism spectrum disorders. 

“The results from this study were very encouraging as positive trends were demonstrated across multiple efficacy measures of socialization in adolescent and young adult males with ASD, despite the small number of subjects and short duration of the study,” said J. Thomas Megerian, MD, PhD, Yamo Pharmaceuticals’ Chief Medical Officer. “There was significant interest and enthusiasm generated by the poster presentation among INSAR attendees.”

In the Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study, 31 males between ages of 13 and 21 with a diagnosis of ASD received L1-79 100 mg, L1-79 200 mg or placebo administered three times per day (TID) for 28 days. Compared to placebo, study participants receiving L1-79 200 mg showed trends in improvements in aspects of social functioning and in repetitive restrictive behaviors (RRBs). While results did not reach statistical significance, the positive trends suggest that modulation of catecholaminergic neurotransmitters in ASD may be a viable strategy for therapeutic intervention. Yamo Pharmaceuticals is planning to conduct a larger study in adolescents and young adults with ASD to further assess the potential of L1-79.

L1-79 is an investigational drug currently in clinical development by Yamo Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of the core symptoms of ASD. L1-79 was granted Fast Track Designation by the Food and Drug Administration in May of 2018. It acts as a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor and is expected to modulate the catecholaminergic pathways implicated in ASD. Clinical studies are planned to further investigate the potential of L1-79 to improve the core symptoms of ASD.

Yamo Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company founded in 2015 to develop L1-79, a novel therapy with the potential to improve the core symptoms of Autism spectrum disorder. Yamo Pharmaceuticals is a privately held company. For more information, visit www.yamopharma.com.