Balovaptan is potentially a ‘game changing’ drug in the treatment of autism

The treatment developed by drug giant Roche acts on a brain receptor for the hormone vasopressin, which is believed to influence social bonding.

During the 12-week trial of 223 men, one group had the treatment and the other a placebo.

Those who took the drug scored significantly higher on social behavioural scales. Other research has shown positive effects on social skills from the drug.

In one unpublished study, 15 children had better scores after inhaling a vaporised form of vasopressin twice a day for four weeks.