Pemetrexed

Pemetrexed
Clinical data
Trade names Alimta
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • US: D (Evidence of risk)
Routes of
administration		 Intravenous
ATC code L01BA04 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability NA
Protein binding 81%
Metabolism Negligible
Biological half-life 3.5 hours
Excretion Renal
Identifiers
CAS Number 137281-23-3 N
PubChem (CID) 446556
DrugBank DB00642 YesY
ChemSpider 393879 YesY
UNII 04Q9AIZ7NO YesY
KEGG D07472 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL225072 YesY
ECHA InfoCard 100.122.913
Chemical and physical data
Formula C20H21N5O6
Molar mass 427.411 g/mol
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
 NYesY (what is this?)  (verify)

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

Medical use

In February 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved pemetrexed for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a type of tumor of the lining of the lung, in combination with cisplatin[1] for patients whose disease is either unresectable or who are not otherwise candidates for curative surgery.[2] In September 2008, the FDA granted approval as a first-line treatment, in combination with cisplatin, against locally advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with non-squamous histology.[3][4][5] A Phase III study showed benefits of maintenance use of pemetrexed for non-squamous NSCLC.[6] Activity has been shown in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.[7] Trials are currently testing it against esophagus and other cancers.

Carboplatin

Pemetrexed is also recommended in combination with carboplatin for the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.[8] However, the relative efficacy or toxicity of pemetrexed-cisplatin versus pemetrexed-carboplatin has not been established beyond what is generally thought about cisplatin or carboplatin doublet drug therapy[9]

Supplementation

Patients should take folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement even if levels are normal when they are on pemetrexed therapy.[10][11] (In clinical trials for mesothelioma, folic acid and B12 supplementation reduced the frequency of adverse events.) It is also recommended for patients to be on a steroid (e.g., dexamethasone 4 mg twice daily) on the day prior, day of, and day after Pemetrexed infusion to avoid skin rashes.[12]

Side effects

Pemetrexed, whether used alone or in combination with cisplatin, has these side effects:[13]

Mechanism of action

Pathway of tetrahydrofolate and antimetabolites

Pemetrexed is chemically similar to folic acid and is in the class of chemotherapy drugs called folate antimetabolites. It works by inhibiting three enzymes used in purine and pyrimidine synthesis—thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase[16][17] (GARFT). By inhibiting the formation of precursor purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, pemetrexed prevents the formation of DNA and RNA, which are required for the growth and survival of both normal cells and cancer cells.

History

The molecular structure of pemetrexed was developed by Edward C. Taylor at Princeton University and clinically developed by Indianapolis-based drug maker, Eli Lilly and Company in 2004.

It has been researched in the PARAMOUNT trial.

Society and culture

Trade names

In addition to the brand name Alimta, this drug is also marketed in India by Abbott Healthcare as Pleumet and by Cadila Healthcare as Pemecad.

Cost

In the United States as of 2015 each vial of medicine costs between 2,623 and 3,100 USD.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Manegold C (August 2003). "Pemetrexed (Alimta, MTA, multitargeted antifolate, LY231514) for malignant pleural mesothelioma". Semin. Oncol. 30 (4 Suppl 10): 32–6. doi:10.1016/S0093-7754(03)00283-5. PMID 12917819.
  2. ↑ National Cancer Institute: FDA Approval for Pemetrexed Disodium
  3. ↑ Cohen MH, Justice R, Pazdur R (September 2009). "Approval summary: pemetrexed in the initial treatment of advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer". Oncologist. 14 (9): 930–5. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2009-0092. PMID 19737998.
  4. ↑ Rossi A, Ricciardi S, Maione P, de Marinis F, Gridelli C (November 2009). "Pemetrexed in the treatment of advanced non-squamous lung cancer". Lung Cancer. 66 (2): 141–9. doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2009.06.006. PMID 19577816.
  5. ↑ "Healthcare Professional Website". ALIMTA.com. Eli Lilly and Company. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  6. ↑ "Maintenance pemetrexed (Pem) plus best supportive care (BSC) versus placebo (Plac) plus BSC: A randomized phase III study in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).". American Society of Clinical Oncology. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  7. ↑ Carteni G, Manegold C, Garcia GM, et al. (May 2009). "Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma-Results from the International Expanded Access Program using pemetrexed alone or in combination with a platinum agent". Lung Cancer. 64 (2): 211–8. doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2008.08.013. PMID 19042053.
  8. ↑ Ettinger DS et al. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer V.2.2009 available from www.nccn.org
  9. ↑ Azzoli CG, Kris MG, Pfister DG (June 2007). "Cisplatin versus carboplatin for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer--an old rivalry renewed". J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 99 (11): 828–9. doi:10.1093/jnci/djk222. PMID 17551137.
  10. ↑ Hazarika M, White RM, Johnson JR, Pazdur R (2004). "FDA drug approval summaries: pemetrexed (Alimta)". Oncologist. 9 (5): 482–8. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.9-5-482. PMID 15477632.
  11. ↑ "Alimta Patient Packet Insert" (PDF). ALIMTA.com. Eli Lilly and Company. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  12. ↑ "Alimta Prescribing Information" (PDF). ALIMTA.com. Eli Lilly and Company. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  13. ↑ "Important Safety Information". ALIMTA.com. Eli Lilly and Company. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  14. ↑ James P.; Wilmot Cancer Center. "Scientists Help Breast Cancer Survivor Lift the Fog of "Chemo Brain"" (PDF). Dialogue. University of Rochester Medical Center. Fall 2007: 2–3. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  15. ↑ "Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation". Cancer Topics - Coping with Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  16. ↑ McLeod HL, Cassidy J, Powrie RH, Priest DG, Zorbas MA, Synold TW, Shibata S, Spicer D, Bissett D, Pithavala YK, Collier MA, Paradiso LJ, Roberts JD (July 2000). "Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of the Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Formyltransferase Inhibitor AG2034". Clinical Cancer Research; Clinical Trials. 6 (7): 2677–84. PMID 10914709.
  17. ↑ Avendano, Carmen; Menendez, J. Carlos (April 2008). Medicinal Chemistry of Anticancer Drugs. Amsterdam: Elsevier. p. 37. ISBN 0-444-52824-5.
  18. ↑ Langreth, Robert (June 29, 2016). "Decoding Big Pharma's Secret Drug Pricing Practices". Bloomberg. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
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