What is Pemetrexed
PemetrexedThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryPemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug sold under the brand name Alimta. It is prescribed alongside cisplatin to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. Pemetrexed has also been studied to treat non-small cell lung cancer.
Alimtais the brand name
Pemetrexed 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 4 uses which include Malignant Mesothelioma and locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer .Malignant Mesothelioma
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
Malignant Neoplasms
Used to treat Metastatic Non-squamous Non Small Cell Lung Cancer in combination with Cisplatin
Pharmacotherapy
Used to treat platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with Pembrolizumab
Effectiveness
How Pemetrexed Affects PatientsPemetrexed can stop the growth of certain types of cancer cells when used alone or with another medication, cisplatin. The amount of white blood cells in the body may decrease with use of pemetrexed, and taking folic acid and vitamin B12 can help prevent this. There is no evidence that repeated use of pemetrexed leads to an increased decrease in white blood cells.
How Pemetrexed works in the bodyPemetrexed works by blocking enzymes necessary for the replication of cancerous cells. It is transported into cells by two systems and then converted into a form that is more resistant to exiting the cell. This form blocks three key enzymes responsible for the creation of molecules needed for cell replication. The blocking of these enzymes stops cancer cells from reproducing, which in turn kills them.
When to interrupt dosage
The suggested dosage of Pemetrexed relies upon the indicated state of affairs, including locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, unresectable Thymoma and Ovarian Cancer. The measure of dosage can be found in the table below, contingent upon the technique of delivery (e.g. Injection, solution - Intravenous or Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution).Condition
Dosage
Administration
Ovarian Cancer
100.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 25.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 10.0 mg/mL, 85.0 mg/mL, 75.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, powder, for solution, Powder, for solution, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intraventricular, Intraventricular, Injection, Solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution, concentrate, Solution - Intravenous
Malignant Mesothelioma
100.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 25.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 10.0 mg/mL, 85.0 mg/mL, 75.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, powder, for solution, Powder, for solution, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intraventricular, Intraventricular, Injection, Solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution, concentrate, Solution - Intravenous
Mesotheliomas
100.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 25.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 10.0 mg/mL, 85.0 mg/mL, 75.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, powder, for solution, Powder, for solution, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intraventricular, Intraventricular, Injection, Solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution, concentrate, Solution - Intravenous
Malignant Neoplasms
100.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 25.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 10.0 mg/mL, 85.0 mg/mL, 75.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, powder, for solution, Powder, for solution, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intraventricular, Intraventricular, Injection, Solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution, concentrate, Solution - Intravenous
Metastatic Ureter Urothelial Carcinoma
100.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 25.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 10.0 mg/mL, 85.0 mg/mL, 75.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, powder, for solution, Powder, for solution, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intraventricular, Intraventricular, Injection, Solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution, concentrate, Solution - Intravenous
locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer
100.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 25.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 10.0 mg/mL, 85.0 mg/mL, 75.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, powder, for solution, Powder, for solution, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intraventricular, Intraventricular, Injection, Solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution, concentrate, Solution - Intravenous
Malignant Neoplasms
100.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 25.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 10.0 mg/mL, 85.0 mg/mL, 75.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, powder, for solution, Powder, for solution, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intraventricular, Intraventricular, Injection, Solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution, concentrate, Solution - Intravenous
unresectable Thymoma
100.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 25.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL, 10.0 mg/mL, 85.0 mg/mL, 75.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Intravenous, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, solution, concentrate, Injection, powder, for solution, Powder, for solution, , Injection, solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Solution, Powder, for solution - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intraventricular, Intraventricular, Injection, Solution, concentrate - Intravenous, Solution, concentrate, Solution - Intravenous
Warnings
Pemetrexed has one contraindication. Combining it with any of the conditions in the following table is not recommended.Pemetrexed ContraindicationsCondition
Risk Level
Notes
Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions
Do Not Combine
Pemetrexed may interact with Anus Diseases
Common Pemetrexed 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.
Pemetrexed Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Pemetrexed?
277 active clinical trials are currently being conducted to assess the ability of Pemetrexed to mitigate Mesotheliomas, Unresectable Thymoma and Malignant Neoplasms.Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Malignant Mesothelioma
18 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Not Applicable, Phase 3
Mesotheliomas
0 Actively Recruiting
unresectable Thymoma
0 Actively Recruiting
Malignant Neoplasms
3 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Not Applicable
Metastatic Ureter Urothelial Carcinoma
33 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Not Applicable
Ovarian Cancer
230 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 1, Not Applicable, Phase 3, Early Phase 1
Malignant Neoplasms
1 Actively Recruiting
Phase 3
locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer
0 Actively Recruiting
Pemetrexed Reviews: What are patients saying about Pemetrexed?
4Patient Review
8/17/2013 Altima has been working well for me so far. The tumor has shrunk every time I've used it, except for the last one where it stayed the same. I'm hoping that the next round will show some more shrinkage. The only side effect I have is tiredness on days three and four, but it's not too bad.
1.7Patient Review
12/10/2012Patient Q&A Section about pemetrexed
What kind of chemo is pemetrexed?
"Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug that works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
Is pemetrexed an immunotherapy?
"This is the first time that chemotherapy and immunotherapy have been approved for use together to treat non-small cell lung cancer." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
What is pemetrexed used to treat?
"Pemetrexed injection is used in combination with other cancer medicines to treat metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with no EGFR or ALK gene mutations. It is also used together with cisplatin to treat advanced or metastatic, non-squamous NSCLC." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
How long can you take pemetrexed?
"You also take vitamin B12 injections starting 7 days before you begin treatment, continuing throughout treatment, and for after 8 weeks after treatment ends.
Pemetrexed and cisplatin treatments usually last between 3 to 6 months, with 4 to 6 sessions. To reduce potential side effects, patients are advised to take folic acid tablets starting 5 days before the first treatment and continuing for 3 weeks after the last treatment. They are also advised to take vitamin B12 injections starting 7 days before the first treatment and continuing for 8 weeks after the last treatment." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer