The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved levoleucovorin (Fusilev, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals) for use in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in combination with 5-fluororacil (5FU). Levoleucovorin was approved in 2008 for rescue after high-dose methotrexate therapy in osteosarcoma. It is also indicated to diminish the toxicity and counteract the effects of impaired methotrexate elimination, and of inadvertent overdosage of folic acid antagonists.
Just 2 weeks ago, the FDA approved the drug in a new “Ready-to-Use” formulation for injection. In thisformulation, the drug does not need to be reconstituted and is a higher strength than the lyophilized formulation.