Secretin is a digestive hormone, described as a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger. It is produced in the small intestine, and secreted by cells when the stomach empties.
Secretin causes:
- The pancrease to secrete pancreatic juice
- The liver to produce bile
- The stomach to produce pepsin
Currently, the only synthetic secretin is derived from pigs, but researchers are working on a human form of the hormone.
The Food and Drug Administration approved secretin for use in identifying pancreatic dysfunction and diagnosing
gastrinoma. It has not approved secretin for treatment of autism.
According to RepliGen Corporation, more than 100 physicians are offering secretin in limited amounts to some of their patients, and organized studies of the drug for autism may be forthcoming. But
the full use of secretin will not happen until FDA-approved clinical trials are complete and a human form
of secretin is available. Right now, there is not sufficient research on the use of secretin to treat autism in children.
Synthetic secretin was originally manufactured by Ferring Laboratories, which held no patent. However, due to low demand, the company stopped making secretin in 1997. Since then, demand increased sharply with the discovery that secretin may have a beneficial effect on autism. Ferring donated materials to the NIH for research, and its remaining stockpile is depleted. Ferring will not resume production of the hormone.
However, RepliGen Corporation has obtained the rights to patent secretin.Click here to read RepliGen's news release.
Right now, secretin can be difficult to obtain. RepliGen says it is currently manufacturing secretin and will apply to the FDA to start clinical
trials in autistic children within the year. It is illegal for RepliGen to give secretin to people who are not part of an FDA-approved clinical trial.
For more on secretin, click here.
