LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A medication traditionally used in cancer treatment has received FDA fast-track approval as a new therapy for children with autism, offering hope to Nevada families seeking treatment options.
Leucovorin, a generic drug typically used with cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, was fast-tracked for FDA approval in September 2025 for autism treatment. The medication works as a folic acid supplement for children who have a folic acid deficit.
“It’s a new medication in the sense of treating children with autism. It’s not a new drug, though. It’s been around. It’s typically been used with cancer patients undergoing chemo,” said FOX5 reporter Talia Kirkland. “So new, but not so new, if that makes sense.”
Las Vegas family tries new treatment
Seven-year-old Christopher Wilson, who has autism and is nonverbal, is among the first Nevada children to try the new treatment. His father, Sean Wilson, said the family was desperate for answers after Christopher was diagnosed as an infant.
“Even getting a diagnosis can be difficult,” Kirkland said, describing the Wilson family’s experience. “So there’s already some type of hardship that these families go through from the beginning.”
Christopher experienced what doctors initially thought was blindness at birth before receiving his autism diagnosis. The family has been using leucovorin for about 30 days under the care of a local pediatric neurologist.
“Little bottle of hope”
The autism community has embraced leucovorin with cautious optimism, with some calling it “the little bottle of hope.”
Shawn Wilson, Christopher’s father, told FOX5 he had read stories online about dramatic improvements.
“I’ve read stories where sometimes when they begin using leucovorin, he’s seen that one, two, three day and then the child is talking,” Kirkland said, describing Wilson’s research.
However, the Wilson family has not yet seen major improvements after 30 days of treatment.
Doctor emphasizes realistic expectations
Dr. Devraj Chavda, one of the few pediatric neurologists in Las Vegas, is prescribing the medication but emphasizes realistic expectations for families.
“We shouldn’t look at autism as something that is curable. He kept saying that, you know, it’s treatable,” Kirkland said, describing the doctor’s approach. “And even he told Shawn with trying this medication with Christopher, that this is a treatment [not a cure].”
The doctor explained that even if the medication helps children begin speaking, medical professionals still need to determine the root cause of speech delays.
“Even if we get those amazing results where he does begin to speak, we still have to figure out what was the root cause, what was blocking that speech,” Kirkland said.
Limited specialists create challenges
Finding medical experts for the story proved challenging due to Nevada’s shortage of pediatric specialists. The reporting process, which began in November 2025, took months to complete because of the limited number of pediatric neurologists in the Las Vegas area.
“That even just from a journalistic point of view, to find experts is difficult,” Kirkland said. “There are so few pediatric neurologists in this area.”
Federal study planned for 2026
While Christopher Wilson is not part of an official study, the federal government plans to conduct a major trial of leucovorin for autism treatment in 2026. Currently, children like Christopher are receiving the medication anecdotally through their doctors.
“His doctor, I’m sure, is with every patient that he’s prescribing this. I’m sure he’s watching and keeping very detailed notes just to see how this works,” Kirkland said.
Concerns about generic medication quality
Because leucovorin is a generic drug, doctors have concerns about quality.
“One of the big concerns is that because it’s a generic, generics can vary a little,” Kirkland said. “So doctors do have that concern that if we’re using this medication in this capacity, that the quality is all going to be standard across the board.”
Parent’s perspective
Despite not seeing immediate results, Shawn Wilson remains committed to trying the treatment for his son.
“You just want to do the best thing you can do for your kid. You want to help them out, and you want them to have as normal of a life as you would expect,” Shawn said.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
