The use of folinic acid (leucovorin) remains prohibited for certain forms of autism, a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a broad spectrum, contrary to a previous announcement by the Trump administration. However, this treatment, previously authorized to prevent certain side effects of chemotherapy, will now be available to people suffering from a rare genetic syndrome known as cerebral folate deficiency.
"This gives hope to many parents of autistic children that their lives can be improved," President Donald Trump had launched this initiative in September during a White House press conference in which he disregarded scientific consensus and made numerous controversial statements about autism. The American medical and scientific community strongly condemned his questioning of acetaminophen and vaccines, and criticized the announced authorization as far too premature.
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The risk of "to raise false hopes"
While a few studies conducted on a very small number of patients have suggested that taking folinic acid may help reduce some communication or interaction difficulties related to autism, this avenue still requires much more research. Its authorization at this stage therefore risked... "to raise false hopes" had warned dozens of autism specialists in a joint letter.
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The US Food and Drug Administration backtracked due to lack of "sufficient data"
Despite Donald Trump's desire to see this treatment approved, the US Food and Drug Administration backtracked due to lack of "sufficient data", an FDA official acknowledged to NBC News. However, some autistic people may take folinic acid if they suffer from a cerebral folate deficiency or if their doctor prescribes this treatment outside of the approved indications.
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