Cannabidivarin (CBDV) vs. Placebo in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Inclusion criteria

• Male or Female pediatric outpatients aged between and including ages 5 to 18. Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) confirmed by the ADOS-2 and DSM-5 criteria.\*During special circumstances (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic) where the ADOS-2 cannot be performed due to site restrictions (e.g. mandatory use of face masks), eligibility can be confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R)
• Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) - Irritability Subscale (ABC-I) score of 18 or greater at screening visit.
• Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) score of 66T or higher at screening visit.
• Clinical Global Impression Scale - Severity (CGI-S) score of 4 or higher at screening.
• Stable pharmacologic, educational, behavioral and/or dietary interventions for 4 weeks prior to randomization and for the duration of the study.
• Physical exam and laboratory results that are within normal range for individuals with ASD.
• Presence of a parent/caregiver/guardian that is able to consent for their participation and complete assessments regarding the child's development and behavior throughout the study. Child Assent will be obtained if the subject is 7 years of age or older and has the mental capacity to understand and sign a written assent form and/or give verbal assent.

Exclusion criteria

• Exposure to any investigational agent in the 30 days prior to randomization.
• Prior chronic treatment with CBD, CBDV or an endocannabinoid treatment.
• Positive testing for THC or other drugs of abuse via urine testing at the screening visit or baseline visits upon repeat confirmation testing.
• Recent history of drug abuse including marijuana/cannabis use in the past 3 months.
• Diagnosis of a known genetic disorder (ie. Prader-Willi Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome etc.).
• A primary psychiatric diagnosis other than ASD, including bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). These patients will be excluded due to potential confounding results.
• A medical condition that severely impacts the subject's ability to participate in the study, interferes with the conduct of the study, confounds interpretation of study results or endangers the subject's well-being.
• A known diagnosis of Rett Syndrome or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, or marked sensory impairment such as deafness or blindness.
• Subjects who have had changes in allied health therapies, behavioral or educational interventions within four weeks prior to randomization other than those associated with school holidays.
• Subjects who have had changes in medications or medication doses within four weeks of randomization. Renal, pancreatic, or hematologic dysfunction as evidenced by values above upper limits of normal for BUN/creatinine, or values twice the upper limit of normal for serum lipase and amylase, platelets \<80,000 /mcL, or WBC\<3.0 103 /mcL
• Liver dysfunction manifested by \> 2 X UNL values of AST or ALT
• ECG abnormality at baseline screening or clinically significant postural drop in systolic blood pressure at screening. If the initial screening ECG show a QTcB of greater than 460 msec, then 2 additional ECGs will be conducted in the same sitting, 5 minutes apart. If not recognized at screening, then a full triplicate repeat showing an average QTcB of 460 msec or less to meet all inclusion/exclusion criteria. Female subjects who are pregnant will be excluded from the study. If a female subject is able to become pregnant, she will be given a serum pregnancy test before entry into the study. Female subjects will be informed not to become pregnant while taking CBDV. Female subjects must tell the investigator and consult an obstetrician or maternal-fetal specialist if they become pregnant during the study.
• Known allergy to sesame oil