Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Propranolol for Aggression, Self-Injury, and Severe Disruptive Behavior in Adolescents and Adults With Autism

Randomized Controlled Trial of Propranolol for Aggression, Self-Injury, and Severe Disruptive Behavior in Adolescents and Adults With Autism

Propranolol for Aggression, Self-Injury, and Severe Disruptive Behavior in Adolescents and Adults With Autism (NCT07091279) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Autism Spectrum Disorder and Challenging Behaviour, sponsored by Jeremy Veenstra-vanderweele. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if propranolol can help reduce challenging behaviors associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including aggression, self-injury, and severe disruptive behaviors. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either propranolol or a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) daily for 12 weeks. After the 12 weeks, all participants will have the opportunity to receive propranolol for an additional 12 weeks.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Autism Spectrum Disorder and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 60 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Autism Spectrum Disorder subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Age between 12-40 years. - Clinical best-estimate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder - Occurrence of severe challenging behaviors, such as aggression, self-injury, and/or severely disruptive or destructive behavior, leading to safety concerns or serious impact of the quality of life, at least weekly over the past 2 months before screening. - Score in the ASD range on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule conducted at the time of study entry or in the past 5 years - Clinical Global Impression Severity scale (CGI-S) score of 4 or above at Baseline - Aberrant Behavior Checklist-2 Irritability/Agitation Subscale Score of 18 or above at Screening. - A resting pulse of greater than 60 and a resting blood pressure of greater than 100/60. - Participant must have a designated study partner who spends a minimum of 5 hours/week with the participant, and can, in the opinion of the investigator, provide a reliable report on the participant's behaviors, symptoms, and complete or supervise at-home safety monitoring and other assessments required during the study - Participants of childbearing potential who are sexually active must agree to practice effective contraception from time of screening through 30 days after their last dose of study drug. Effective contraception is the use of two methods of contraception: hormonal contraceptives or intrauterine device and barrier (i.e., condoms, diaphragm, or cervical cap). - Participant must be able to fully swallow study medication capsule. - English must be primary language for participant. Study partner must be able to consent in English and complete study related form in English. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Those who are unable to provide willing to sign a consent form and have no parent/guardian/legally authorized representative to provide willing to sign a consent form for study enrollment ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 12-40 years. * Clinical best-estimate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder * Occurrence of severe challenging behaviors, such as aggression, self-injury, and/or severely disruptive or destructive behavior, leading to safety concerns or serious impact of the quality of life, at least weekly over the past 2 months before screening. * Score in the ASD range on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule conducted at the time of study entry or in the past 5 years * Clinical Global Impression Severity scale (CGI-S) score of 4 or above at Baseline * Aberrant Behavior Checklist-2 Irritability/Agitation Subscale Score of 18 or above at Screening. * A resting pulse of greater than 60 and a resting blood pressure of greater than 100/60. * Participant must have a designated study partner who spends a minimum of 5 hours/week with the participant, and can, in the opinion of the investigator, provide a reliable report on the participant's behaviors, symptoms, and complete or supervise at-home safety monitoring and other assessments required during the study * Participants of childbearing potential who are sexually active must agree to practice effective contraception from time of screening through 30 days after their last dose of study drug. Effective contraception is the use of two methods of contraception: hormonal contraceptives or intrauterine device and barrier (i.e., condoms, diaphragm, or cervical cap). * Participant must be able to fully swallow study medication capsule. * English must be primary language for participant. Study partner must be able to consent in English and complete study related form in English. Exclusion Criteria: * Those who are unable to provide informed consent and have no parent/guardian/legally authorized representative to provide informed consent for study enrollment * Change in psychotropic medication or behavioral intervention (except when caused by vocational, habilitation, or school schedule) within two months before randomization. * Asthma or history of any disorder involving bronchoconstriction in the past 5 years. * Cardiovascular history in which the use of propranolol at high doses would be contraindicated, as determined by consulting cardiologist (such as AV block, sick sinus syndrome, valvular pathologies, cardiomyopathies, or vascular disease). * Uncontrolled seizure disorder (a seizure within the past year and/or changes in seizure medication in the previous six months). * Diabetes mellitus * History of lactose intolerance that requires the potential participant to abstain from all dairy products or to take lactase supplements. * Medical history of renal or hepatic impairment. * Medical history of hypoglycemia * Inability to provide blood testing when there is a medical indication for blood testing to allow clinical safety determination by the study safety physician * Depressive episode currently or within the previous six months * History of allergy or adverse reaction to propranolol or another beta-blocker * Current use of any of the following: propafenone, quinidine, amiodarone, lidocaine, digitalis glycosides, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, clonidine, alpha blockers, reserpine, inotropic agents (epinephrine), isoproterenol and dobutamine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin), antidepressants (MAO inhibitors, tricyclics), anesthetic agents (methoxyflurane, trichloroethylene), warfarin, neuroleptics (haloperidol), thyroxine, alcohol * Any other medical disorder or medication which would contraindicate the use of propranolol. * Is judged to be inappropriate for the study for any reason by the Investigator * Has recently participated in another investigational medication study or device study within last 3 months * Participant is unable to complete blood pressure or ECG safety assessments * If female, is pregnant or breastfeeding.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Propranolol

Propranolol, oral, titrated in weekly increments from 10 mg TID to a maximum of 200 mg TID (total daily dose: 30 mg to 600 mg at 8 weeks), based on tolerability. Participants will continue at the highest tolerated dose for additional 4 weeks. Target doses: 10 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg, 120 mg, 160 mg, 200 mg TID.

DRUG

Placebo

Placebo for Propranolol

Locations (2)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

New York State Institute for Basic Research (IBR)
Staten Island, New York, United States
Center for Autism and the Developing Brain
White Plains, New York, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07091279), the sponsor (Jeremy Veenstra-vanderweele), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT07091279 clinical trial studying?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if propranolol can help reduce challenging behaviors associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including aggression, self-injury, and severe disruptive behaviors. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either propranolol or a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) daily for 12 weeks. After the 12 weeks, all participants will have the opportunity to receive propranolol for an additional 12 weeks. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT07091279?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT07091279?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT07091279. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07091279. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.