Used primarily in the pharmaceutical and biochemical research fields, this compound plays a key role in metabolic pathway studies, particularly in carbohydrate and sugar acid metabolism. It serves as a chiral building block for synthesizing complex natural products and biologically active molecules. Due to its multiple hydroxyl groups and stereochemical configuration, it is valuable in the development of enzyme inhibitors and glycomimetics—compounds that mimic carbohydrates and are used in drug design for diseases like diabetes, viral infections, and cancer. It is also employed in the preparation of biodegradable polymers and hydrogels for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.