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Details

Stereochemistry ABSOLUTE
Molecular Formula C20H23N7O7
Molecular Weight 473.4393
Optical Activity UNSPECIFIED
Defined Stereocenters 2 / 2
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of LEVOLEUCOVORIN

SMILES

NC1=NC(=O)C2=C(NC[C@H](CNC3=CC=C(C=C3)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(O)=O)C(O)=O)N2C=O)N1

InChI

InChIKey=VVIAGPKUTFNRDU-STQMWFEESA-N
InChI=1S/C20H23N7O7/c21-20-25-16-15(18(32)26-20)27(9-28)12(8-23-16)7-22-11-3-1-10(2-4-11)17(31)24-13(19(33)34)5-6-14(29)30/h1-4,9,12-13,22H,5-8H2,(H,24,31)(H,29,30)(H,33,34)(H4,21,23,25,26,32)/t12-,13-/m0/s1

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Molecular Formula C20H23N7O7
Molecular Weight 473.4393
Charge 0
Count
MOL RATIO 1 MOL RATIO (average)
Stereochemistry ABSOLUTE
Additional Stereochemistry No
Defined Stereocenters 2 / 2
E/Z Centers 0
Optical Activity UNSPECIFIED

Description

Levoleucovorin is the pharmacologically active isomer of leucovorin or 5-formyl tetrahydrofolic acid, a folate analog . Levoleucovorin does not require reduction by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase in order to participate in reactions utilizing folates as a source of “onecarbon” moieties. Administration of levoleucovorin can counteract the therapeutic and toxic effects of folic acid antagonists such as methotrexate, which act by inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase. Levoleucovorin can enhance the therapeutic and toxic effects of fluoropyrimidines used in cancer therapy such as 5-fluorouracil. 5-fluorouracil is metabolized to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate (FdUMP), which binds to and inhibits thymidylate synthase (an enzyme important in DNA repair and replication). Levoleucovorin is readily converted to another reduced folate, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, which acts to stabilize the binding of FdUMP to thymidylate synthase and thereby enhances the inhibition of this enzyme. Fusilev® (levoleucovorin) is approved by FDA for i) rescue after high-dose methotrexate therapy in osteosarcoma, ii) diminishing the toxicity and counteracting the effects of impaired methotrexate elimination and of inadvertent overdosage of folic acid antagonists and iii) in combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in the palliative treatment of patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer.

Approval Year

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Secondary
FUSILEV
Palliative
FUSILEV

Cmax

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
10895 ng/mL
200 mg/m² single, intravenous
LEVOLEUCOVORIN unknown
Homo sapiens
340 ng/mL
12.5 mg single, oral
LEVOMEFOLIC ACID serum
Homo sapiens
275 ng/mL
15 mg single, intravenous
LEVOMEFOLIC ACID serum
Homo sapiens
4930 ng/mL
200 mg/m² single, intravenous
LEVOMEFOLIC ACID unknown
Homo sapiens

AUC

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
30719 ng × h/mL
200 mg/m² single, intravenous
LEVOLEUCOVORIN unknown
Homo sapiens
1563 ng × h/mL
12.5 mg single, oral
LEVOMEFOLIC ACID serum
Homo sapiens
52105 ng × h/mL
200 mg/m² single, intravenous
LEVOMEFOLIC ACID unknown
Homo sapiens

T1/2

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
6.8 h
15 mg single, intravenous
LEVOMEFOLIC ACID serum
Homo sapiens

Doses

AEs

Sourcing

PubMed

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide
Fusilev Rescue After High-Dose Methotrexate Therapy: Fusilev rescue recommendations are based on a methotrexate dose of 12 grams/m2 administered by intravenous infusion over 4 hours. Fusilev rescue at a dose of 7.5 mg (approximately 5 mg/m2) every 6 hours for 10 doses starts 24 hours after the beginning of the methotrexate infusion. Fusilev Administration in Combination with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU): The following regimens have been used historically for the treatment of colorectal cancer: 1. Fusilev is administered at 100 mg/m2 by slow intravenous injection over a minimum of 3 minutes, followed by 5-FU at 370 mg/m2 by intravenous injection. 2. Fusilev is administered at 10 mg/m by 2 intravenous injection followed by 5-FU at 425 mg/m2 by intravenous injection.
Route of Administration: Intravenous
Substance Class Chemical
Record UNII
990S25980Y
Record Status Validated (UNII)
Record Version