Molecule

Drug Groups

approved; investigational

Description

Pemetrexed (brand name Alimta?) is a chemotherapy drug manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly and Company. Its indications are the treatment of pleural mesothelioma as well as non-small cell lung cancer.

Indication

Used in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma in adults whose disease is unresectable or who otherwise are not candidates for potentially curative surgery. Also used as a monotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after prior chemotherapy

Pharmacology

Preclinical studies have shown that pemetrexed inhibits the in vitro growth of mesothelioma cell lines (MSTO-211H, NCI-H2052). Studies with the MSTO-211H mesothelioma cell line showed synergistic effects when pemetrexed was combined concurrently with cisplatin.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

Metabolized by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes

Half Life

3.5 hours

Protein Binding

81%

Elimination

Pemetrexed is not metabolized to an appreciable extent and is primarily eliminated in the urine, with 70% to 90% of the dose recovered unchanged within the first 24 hours following administration.

Distribution

* 16.1 L

Clearance

* 91.8 mL/min [Cancer patients with normal renal function receiving 0.2 to 838 mg/m2 infusion over a 10-minute period]

References

External Links