Shares in Q BioMed Inc (OTCMKTS:QBIO) advanced over 5% as it welcomed an autism language expert to its advisory committee for its candidate for non-verbal disorder in toddlers.
Dr Helen Tager-Flusberg has provided the protocol for capturing the primary endpoint of the planned trial for QBM-001.
"We are honoured to have Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg join our advisory committee for QBM-001.
"She is a pioneer in her field, working with autism spectrum disorders to design speech and language assessment measures to capture their progress," said, Denis Corin, the chief executive of Q BioMed Inc.
Her newest assessment tool is called ELSA-T, which stands for 'expressive learning sample assessment for toddlers'.
Q BioMed is preparing to use ELSA-T to capture language development as the primary endpoint for when toddlers are treated with QBM-001 in the planned clinical trial in 2018.
Around 20,000 new cases of the disorder are diagnosed in the USA each year and a similar amount in Europe.
The condition is one that affects very young (1 to 2yrs of age) children who are on the autistic spectrum.
The result is known as a ‘non-verbal disorder’ and is accompanied with developmental delay, where the toddlers either never learn to speak or lose the ability to speak.
Not all individuals who become nonverbal will benefit from QBM-001, the firm noted, but testing from trained specialists and blood tests, coupled with genetic testing can identify a targeted population that will have a higher likelihood of responding to treatment.
Shares gained 5.63% to C$5.25.