Alimta

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Thymoma, Ovarian Cancer + 7 more
Treatment
7 FDA approvals
20 Active Studies for Alimta

What is Alimta

PemetrexedThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryPemetrexed, also known by the brand name Alimta, is a chemotherapy drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma, a type of cancer in the lungs, when the disease cannot be surgically removed. It is also used to treat some types of non-small cell lung cancer.
Alimtais the brand name
image of different drug pills on a surface
Alimta Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Alimta
Pemetrexed
2004
76

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Pemetrexed, also known as Alimta, is approved by the FDA for 7 uses which include Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) and locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer .
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM)
Used to treat Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) in combination with Cisplatin
locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer
Used to treat locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer in combination with Cisplatin
Metastatic Non-squamous Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
Used to treat Metastatic Non-squamous Non Small Cell Lung Cancer in combination with Cisplatin
Malignant Mesothelioma
Used to treat Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) in combination with Cisplatin
Malignant Neoplasms
Used to treat Metastatic Non-squamous Non Small Cell Lung Cancer in combination with Cisplatin
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Used to treat locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer in combination with Cisplatin
Pharmacotherapy
Used to treat platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with Pembrolizumab

Effectiveness

How Alimta Affects PatientsPemetrexed has been shown to slow the growth of mesothelioma cell lines in laboratory tests, and works better when combined with cisplatin. Research shows that the lower the amount of neutrophils in the body, the higher the level of pemetrexed. Taking folic acid and vitamin B12 can help reduce the amount of neutrophils. Taking pemetrexed multiple times doesn't make a difference in the amount of neutrophils in the body.
How Alimta works in the bodyPemetrexed is an antifolate that interferes with the production of DNA building blocks essential for cell replication. It does this by blocking the activity of enzymes used to generate these blocks. Pemetrexed is taken into cells through two different pathways, then converted into an active form which stays in the cell longer and keeps on blocking these enzymes. This prolonged effect in cancer cells causes cell growth to be stopped or slowed down.

When to interrupt dosage

The measure of Alimta is contingent upon the diagnosed affliction, including locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, unresectable Thymoma and Ovarian Cancer. The quantity of dosage varies, according to the method of delivery (e.g. Injection, solution - Intravenous or Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution) featured in the table beneath.
Condition
Dosage
Administration
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Thymoma
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Ovarian Cancer
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Malignant Mesothelioma
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Metastatic Ureter Urothelial Carcinoma
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Malignant Neoplasms
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Malignant Mesothelioma
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Disease Progression
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Pharmacotherapy
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous
Pharmacotherapy
, 500.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 25.0 mg/mL
, Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution - Intravenous, Injection, Injection - Intravenous

Warnings

Alimta has one contraindication. Consequently, it must not be used for any of the circumstances indicated in the table below.There are 20 known major drug interactions with Alimta.
Common Alimta Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
2-Methoxyethanol
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Pemetrexed is combined with 2-Methoxyethanol.
9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Pemetrexed is combined with 9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A.
Abetimus
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Pemetrexed is combined with Abetimus.
Acteoside
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Pemetrexed is combined with Acteoside.
Aldosterone
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Pemetrexed is combined with Aldosterone.
image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Alimta Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Alimta?

277 active investigations are being undertaken to evaluate the potential of Alimta for alleviating Mesotheliomas, unresectable Thymoma and Malignant Neoplasms.
Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Malignant Mesothelioma
15 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Not Applicable
Pharmacotherapy
0 Actively Recruiting
Malignant Neoplasms
1 Actively Recruiting
Phase 3
Pharmacotherapy
0 Actively Recruiting
Thymoma
0 Actively Recruiting
Metastatic Ureter Urothelial Carcinoma
36 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Not Applicable
Ovarian Cancer
17 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Not Applicable
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
0 Actively Recruiting
Disease Progression
0 Actively Recruiting
Malignant Mesothelioma
7 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3

Alimta Reviews: What are patients saying about Alimta?

5Patient Review
8/3/2010
Alimta for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
I have all the classical symptons. It has zaped me from the start. I have taken one dose with the next one in a week. Never have I been so weak. Hoping this drug helps me and others.Wondering if the drug is worth the pain.Perhaps if the outcome is good I will report differently, but if it doesn't then taking this isn't worth all the suffering
5Patient Review
7/5/2013
Alimta for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
My husband has undergone 27 rounds of chemotherapy so far, and it's been working well to keep the cancer at bay. Unfortunately, he had to stop treatment because of fluid retention in his body and around his lungs. We're not sure if treatments will resume or not, but we're hopeful that they will.
4.7Patient Review
5/11/2013
Alimta for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
I've only had three treatments so far, so I won't know for sure if it's working until next month. The first two went well, but the last one made me sick for nine days! Not sure why that was.
4Patient Review
3/11/2011
Alimta for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
So far, this treatment plan has been working very well for me with few side effects. I'm cancer-free so far according to two PET scans.
3.7Patient Review
7/6/2008
Alimta for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
View All Reviews
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Patient Q&A Section about alimta

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What is the drug Alimta used for?

"Pemetrexed is used to treat certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. It is a chemotherapy drug that works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells."

Answered by AI

What kind of drug is Alimta?

"Alimta is a medication used to treat Mesothelioma and Nonsquamous Non-Small cell Lung Carcinoma. It may be used alone or with other medications. Alimta belongs to a class of drugs called Antineoplastics, Antimetabolite."

Answered by AI

What is carboplatin and Alimta?

"Carboplatin + Pemetrexed (Alimta®) is a chemotherapy regimen that is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)."

Answered by AI

Is Alimta chemo or immunotherapy?

"Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer. When used in conjunction with cisplatin, pemetrexed has been shown to extend life expectancy for patients with pleural mesothelioma."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Alimta

Have you considered Alimta clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Alimta, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Have you considered Alimta clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Alimta, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Have you considered Alimta clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Alimta, we think they might fit your search criteria.