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AMR Drug RepurposingSmart Screeningresearch prototype

Folic Acid

FDA-approved product (injectable, injection), marketed as Folic Acid, Folicet, Folvite and 1 more.

Registered studies
50+
Lab records
3
Pathogens at ≥40%
4 of 4

Chemical structure

Chemical structure of Folic Acid
A drawing shows what the molecule is, not what it does.

Existing / approved use

Documented · FDA, WHO, ChEMBL

Approved for

  • Acne
  • Anemia
  • Anemia (phenotype)
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic renal failure syndrome
  • Depressive disorder
  • Folate deficiency
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Major depressive disorder
  • Osteoporosis
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Indications ChEMBL records as approved, from FDA and DailyMed labels. Label ↗

WHO therapeutic group
Folic acid and derivatives; Other diagnostic agents
Anti-infective classification
Not classified as an anti-infective.

Repurposing investigation

This medicine is being investigated here for AI-predicted antimicrobial activity against MRSA, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and M. tuberculosis. It was surfaced computationally for further investigation; it is not an established treatment for these infections.

AI-predicted activity

AI prediction · nothing measured
  • MRSA43.5% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates.
  • E. coli87.0% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates. This medicine was in the model's training data, so this is recall, not a new prediction.
  • K. pneumoniae47.8% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates.
  • M. tuberculosis50.0% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates.

A model’s estimate of laboratory activity against each pathogen species. It is not clinical effectiveness.

Evidence

Clinical and experimental

Documented evidence

Clinical

50+registered studies name this medicine, for any condition. The registry search keeps the first 50, so there may be more. See them below.

Experimental

  • E. coli: measured active in 3 of 3 lab records
Open Folic Acid in ChEMBL Registered studies below
Show the 3 laboratory records, with sources

Loading records…

“Active” means the measured value reached this project’s laboratory cutoff (10 µM or stronger). A laboratory result does not show an effect in patients.

Docking

Computational · nothing measured

Dihydrofolate reductase ↗ (E. coli)

Not yet docked: queued in the docking rundetails

KPC-2 carbapenemase ↗ (K. pneumoniae)

Not yet docked: queued in the docking rundetails

Enoyl-ACP reductase (InhA) ↗ (M. tuberculosis)

Not yet docked: queued in the docking rundetails

Dihydrofolate reductase ↗ (MRSA)

Not yet docked: queued in the docking rundetails

AutoDock Vina, one experimentally solved protein per pathogen. This project’s screening target is -7.0 kcal/mol, its own mark rather than a universal cutoff. A docking score is a structural hypothesis, not proof of binding, and requires experimental validation.

Other medicines to investigate

AI prediction · nothing measured

Other repurposing candidates: approved medicines besides Folic Acid with AI-predicted activity ≥40% against the chosen pathogen, leaving out existing antimicrobials. They are computational candidates for further investigation, not alternatives and not recommendations.

Sorted by AI-predicted activity, high to low. The order is not a ranking of which medicine is better.

Registered studies

A registration describes a study; it does not establish a positive result.

  • Iron Deficiency Anemia Can be an Indication for Treatment of Subclinical Hypothyroidism

    NCT00535561 · start 2007-06

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00535561
    Conditions
    Iron Deficiency Anemia; Subclinical Hypothyroidism
    Interventions
    Ferrous sulfate tablets 325 mg, po, TID; Ferrous sulfate plus levothyroxine
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 1
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2007-06
    Completion
    2007-09
    Enrolment
    Not recorded

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionIron Deficiency Anemia; Subclinical Hypothyroidism
    InterventionFerrous sulfate tablets 325 mg, po, TID; Ferrous sulfate plus levothyroxine
    PhasePhase 1
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Iron Supplementation in Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminths Control Programmes in Zambia

    NCT00276224 · start 2005-09

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00276224
    Conditions
    Schistosomiasis; Helminthiases; Anaemia
    Interventions
    ferrous sulphate (drug)
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Not applicable
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2005-09
    Completion
    2006-04
    Enrolment
    480

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionSchistosomiasis; Helminthiases; Anaemia
    Interventionferrous sulphate (drug)
    PhaseNot applicable
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Study on Preventing Anemia in Children in Ghana

    NCT00301054 · start 2005-06

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00301054
    Conditions
    Anaemia in Children
    Interventions
    Ferrous sulphate; Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Not applicable
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2005-06
    Completion
    2006-04
    Enrolment
    872

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionAnaemia in Children
    InterventionFerrous sulphate; Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine
    PhaseNot applicable
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Prenatal Multi-micronutrient Supplementation and Pregnancy Outcome

    NCT00168688 · start 2001-01

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00168688
    Conditions
    Pregnancy; Birth Weight
    Interventions
    multi micronutrient supplement; MN1; MN2
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 1
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2001-01
    Completion
    2002-10
    Enrolment
    2,100

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionPregnancy; Birth Weight
    Interventionmulti micronutrient supplement; MN1; MN2
    PhasePhase 1
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Iron Therapy in Colo-Rectal Neoplasm and Iron Deficiency Anemia: Intravenous Iron Sucrose Versus Oral Ferrous Sulphate.

    NCT00199277

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00199277
    Conditions
    Colorectal Neoplasm; Iron Deficiency Anemia
    Interventions
    i.v. iron sucrose; Oral iron
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 4
    Registry status
    Unknown
    Start
    Not recorded
    Completion
    Not recorded
    Enrolment
    150

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionColorectal Neoplasm; Iron Deficiency Anemia
    Interventioni.v. iron sucrose; Oral iron
    PhasePhase 4
    Registry statusUnknown