In a surprising move, the Trump administration announced it would repurpose leucovorin, an old vitamin B derivative, as a treatment for autism, shocking many experts in the medical community.
Dr. Richard Frye, who initially suggested the drug's use to health officials, expressed his astonishment at the administration’s decision to approve the treatment without extensive research. We were kinda surprised that they were just approving it right out of the gate without more studies or anything, said Frye, who has been advocating for deeper inquiries into the drug's potential benefits for autistic children.
Health organizations and researchers have criticized this move, stating that the studies backing leucovorin's efficacy are minimal and qualitatively poor. David Mandell, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania, emphasized the lack of solid evidence establishing leucovorin as a valid treatment option, asserting that autism’s roots lie primarily in genetics.
The approval of leucovorin, aimed at treating autism symptoms, raises alarm among specialists who caution against hastily introduced treatments. Many healthcare professionals advocate for a research-driven approach and stress the importance of patient safety. Dr. Lawrence Gray, a pediatric specialist, emphasized that past promising treatments often fail during larger trials, and the autistic population's heterogeneity complicates treatment efficacy assessments.
Parents seeking options have turned to the internet, driving interest in leucovorin. Some report notable improvements in their children’s symptoms after commencing treatment with formulations derived from compounding pharmacies, even in the absence of broad FDA approval for autism-specific therapies.
The discussions surrounding leucovorin highlight the ongoing tension between the urgency for autism treatment options and the need for thorough scientific validation.
