Leucovorin Prescriptions for Autistic Children Jump 2,000% After Trump and RFK Jr. Endorsements
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · May 18
Leucovorin Prescriptions for Autistic Children Jump 2,000% After Trump and RFK Jr. Endorsements
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · May 18
UC San Diego researchers found leucovorin prescribing for children with autism rose from about 34 to 835 per 100,000 outpatient visits by November 2025 after heavy media and White House promotion.
EPIC Cosmos data covering more than 800,000 autistic children showed a smaller bump after a February 2025 Fox News report, then a much sharper spike following the September endorsement by Trump, RFK Jr. and other officials.
Leucovorin is approved for cerebral folate deficiency and some cancer-treatment uses, but the study said evidence for autism remains weak; FDA expanded the drug's label in March for folate deficiency, not autism.
That evidence base weakened further in January when a positive 77-child autism trial was retracted over data errors and concerns, underscoring researchers' call for outcome tracking and more rigorous studies.
Could an unproven autism drug actually be a breakthrough for a very specific, overlooked group of children?
A drug for autism saw a 2000% surge from endorsements. How do we separate real hope from medical hype?