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Folic acid or folate
Folic acid acts as a coenzyme in one-carbon transfer reactions essential for DNA synthesis and cell division.
Folic acid acts as a coenzyme in one-carbon transfer reactions essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. Used for Folic acid deficiency anemia, Neural tube defect prevention in pregnancy, Megaloblastic anemia.
At a glance
| Generic name | Folic acid or folate |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Hoffmann-La Roche |
| Drug class | Vitamin B9 / Folate supplement |
| Target | Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) / Folate metabolism pathway |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Nutritional supplementation / Hematology / Obstetrics |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Folic acid (vitamin B9) is converted to its active form, tetrahydrofolate (THF), which serves as a carrier of one-carbon units in biosynthetic reactions. These reactions are critical for the synthesis of purines and thymidylate, which are necessary for DNA replication and cell proliferation. Folic acid is essential for normal cell division and is particularly important during periods of rapid cell growth.
Approved indications
- Folic acid deficiency anemia
- Neural tube defect prevention in pregnancy
- Megaloblastic anemia
- Nutritional supplementation in various disease states
Common side effects
- Allergic reactions (rare)
- Nausea
- Abdominal distension
- Anorexia
Key clinical trials
- Testing the Addition of the Anti-cancer Drug Venetoclax and/or the Anti-cancer Immunotherapy Blinatumomab to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment for Infants With Newly Diagnosed KMT2A-rearranged or KMT2A-non-rearranged Leukemia (PHASE2)
- A Study to Investigate Blinatumomab in Combination With Chemotherapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia (PHASE3)
- Neoadjuvant mFolfirinox With or Without Preoperative Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy in Patients With Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Carcinoma (PANDAS-PRODIGE 44) (PHASE2)
- Targeted Therapy Directed by Genetic Testing in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Advanced Solid Tumors, The ComboMATCH Screening Trial (PHASE2)
- Studying Chemotherapy With or Without Panitumumab for Unresectable, Locally Advanced, or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Without KRAS Mutations (PHASE3)
- Testing the Addition of Atezolizumab to Combination Chemotherapy or Atezolizumab Alone for Metastatic Colon or Rectal Cancer, the COMMIT Study (PHASE3)
- Study of Chemotherapy, With or Without Binimetinib in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers in 2nd Line Setting (A ComboMATCH Treatment Trial) (PHASE2)
- Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Folic acid or folate CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Folic acid or folate updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Hoffmann-La Roche portfolio CI