A once-obscure cancer drug has become a celebrity in the autism community

By Jon Hamilton

Published January 19, 2026 at 5:04 PM EST

The cancer drug leucovorin has been in high demand since the Trump administration endorsed it as a treatment for some autistic kids. Some experts say the drug's popularity has outpaced the science.

Jon Hamilton

Jon Hamilton is a correspondent for NPR's Science Desk. Currently he focuses on neuroscience and health risks.

See stories by Jon Hamilton

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