This week, the Trump administration announced that the FDA had approved leucovorin, a generic drug, as a treatment for autism. The announcement shocked health experts because the FDA’s usual approval process, which is lengthy and rigorous, has been bypassed.
Leucovorin, also known as folinic acid, is a derivative of vitamin B9. It is typically used to counteract the harmful effects of methotrexate, a common chemotherapy drug. In a statement, the FDA commissioner, Martin Makary, said the drug would now be approved for patients with cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), a condition sometimes associated with autism spectrum disorders.
