A Multi-site Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial of Memantine Versus Placebo in Children With Autism (MEM)

Inclusion Criteria

1. Male or female outpatients 6 to 12 years of age

2. Verbal; Module 2 or 3 on Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

3. Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) for Autism Spectrum Disorder. The diagnosis will be confirmed with AutismDiagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and ADOS Module 2 or 3.

4. Parents report difficulties with motor skills

5. Have a Clinician's Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) score ≥ 4 (moderately ill) atScreening and Baseline

6. If already receiving stable nonpharmacologic educational, behavioral, and/or dietaryinterventions, have continuous participation during the preceding 3 months prior toScreening and will not electively initiate new or modify ongoing interventions for theduration of the study

7. Participants can be on up to 2 concomitant psychotropic medications before enteringthe study, provided that they have been on a stable dose for 30 days and have no plansto adjust the dose for the duration of study

8. Have normal physical examination and laboratory test results at Screening. Ifabnormal, the finding(s) must be deemed clinically insignificant by the Investigators

9. Prior to the conduct of any study-specific procedures, the patient must provide assentto participate in the study (if developmentally appropriate), and the parent or legalguardian must provide written informed consent

10. The patient and the patient's parent or legal guardian must be able to speak andunderstand English sufficiently to understand the nature of the study and to allow forthe completion of all study assessments

11. The parent or legal guardian must be capable of providing reliable information aboutthe patient's condition, agree to oversee the administration of study drug, andaccompany the patient to all clinic visits

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients born prior to 35 weeks gestational age

2. Patients with any primary psychiatric diagnosis other than autism at Screening: ahistory of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder,psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, or major depressive disorder

3. Patients with a medical history of neurological disease, including, but not limitedto, epilepsy/seizure disorder (except simple febrile seizures), movement disorder,tuberous sclerosis, fragile X, and any other known genetic syndromes, or knownabnormal MRI/structural lesion of the brain

4. Patients with a medical condition that might interfere with the conduct of the study,confound interpretation of the study results, or endanger their own well-being.Patients with evidence or history of malignancy or any significant hematological,endocrine, cardiovascular (including any rhythm disorder), respiratory, renal,hepatic, or gastrointestinal disease.

5. Patients who plan to initiate or change pharmacological or nonpharmacologicinterventions during the course of the study

6. Patients on d-cycloserine or riluzole as they both target the glutamate system

7. Patients on agents that alkalinize the urine (acetazolamide, potassium citrate, andsodium bicarbonate), as they decrease the elimination of memantine

8. Patients who have received treatment with memantine in the past with no response

9. Patients with a history of hypersensitivity reaction to dextromethorphan, amantadine,or any other NMDA receptor antagonists

10. Patients unable to tolerate venipuncture procedures for blood sampling

11. Patients who, in the Investigator's opinion, might not be suitable for the study

12. Children weighing under 20 kg (to meet FDA approvals)

13. Patients with a positive pregnancy test