Glafenic acid is primarily used as an intermediate in the synthesis of glafenine, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that was historically prescribed for pain relief and inflammation. Although glafenine has been withdrawn from many markets due to safety concerns, glafenic acid remains relevant in pharmaceutical research and development for studying metabolic pathways and designing new analgesic compounds. It is also employed in laboratory settings for exploring the chemistry of anthranilic acid derivatives and their biological activities. Its structure makes it useful in the preparation of other bioactive molecules through chemical modification.