Pemetrexed

This website is about the chemotherapy medication pemetrexed. It is also called LY231514.

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.

If you are interested in pemetrexed for lung cancer, click here.

If you are interested in pemetrexed for mesothelioma, click here.

Alimta

This drug is used in treatment of mesothelioma.

Disclaimer

This site was not prepared by medical professionals. Consult a doctor for specific questions about treatment.