Pemetrexed is a drug that belongs to a class of chemotherapeutic drugs known as folate antimetabolites. Also known by the brand name Alimta, the drug was approved by the United States Food and Drug administration in February 2004 for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in combination with cisplatin, a platinum-containing chemotherapeutic drug. Then in July 2004, the drug was approved by the FDA as a second line agent for the treatment of advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, the drug is used as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of other types of cancer such as breast cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cacinoma and cervical cancer. It is developed and marketed by Eli Lilly and Company, an Indianapolis based company.

What is this drug?

Material about how pemetrexed works in the body.

Research into pemetrexed

Pemetrexed is an antifolate, a substance that blocks the activity of folic acid. Also called folate antagonist.

Methotrexate (formerly known as amethopterin), is an earlier antimetabolite drug used in treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. It acts by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid. Methotrexate was developed in the late 1940 sand started in use in the 1950s and is considered one of the early chemotherapy drugs.

Pemetrexed is used in treatment of some form of lung cancer and in treatment of mesothelioma.

 

This drug is used in treatment of mesothelioma.

Pemetrexed works as an antifolate. It interferes with the folate metabolism in the body, and thus inhibits the synthesis of folate-dependent enzymes which are needed for the formation of some nucleotides, the precursors of the genetic material. By preventing the formation of these nucleotides, the drug prevents the formation of the genetic material (DNA and RNA) required for the growth of both normal and cancer cells. Pemetrexed is administered as a solution via injection into a vein and is usually given once every 21 days. It is available in 500 mg vials of lyophilized powder. Known side effects include nausea and vomiting, fatigue, shortness of breath, anorexia, anemia, chest pain, fever, infection, edema, and rash.

Pemetrexed as a single-agent is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after prior chemotherapy. The effectiveness of Pemetrexed in second-line NSCLC was based on the surrogate endpoint, response rate. There are no controlled trials demonstrating a clinical benefit, such as a favorable survival effect or improvement of disease-related symptoms.

Pemetrexed in combination with the chemotherapy agent cisplatin is used in treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma when the disease is unresectable or somehow not a good candidate for surgery.

Administration of pemetrexed.


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