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The drug pemetrexed disodium, marketed under the brand name Alimta, acts as an antimetabolite that suppresses the division and subsequent growth of tumor cells. It is an antimetabolite drug. This means it mimics chemicals the cancer cells willingly absorbs inside of it and then disrupts the production of the chemical folate, which is necessary for the division of cells using DNA or RNA replication.[1]
When cancer cells cannot divide, they die off. Cells that prepare to divide most quickly, as in aggressive cancers, tend to die off more quickly than healthy cells. As a result, growth of the tumor halts and potentially leads to shrinking.
As of 2019, Alimta’s manufacturer Eli Lilly maintains the validity of their patent on pemetrexed in combination with vitamin B12, meaning that no generic version of the drug is available in the U.S.[2]
Pemetrexed is largely used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs to treat mesothelioma patients who are poor candidates for surgery and non-small cell lung cancer patients with advanced or metastasized tumor growth.[3]
Your oncologist may prescribe a dose of pemetrexed prepared as a solution to be administered by IV. It is typically given once every 21 days.[4] Since the drug interferes with the production of folate, you will be given a supplement of B12 vitamins and folic acid in order to decrease the potential side effects. Blood tests will track the efficacy of the treatment and give your oncologist information for adjusting dosage and other practices.[5]
Use of pemetrexed can cause a number of side effects common to chemotherapy drugs in general. These can vary from person to person and may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue or weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or vomiting
Speak with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience:
- Inability to urinate
- Unexplained cough
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Redness, swelling, or blistering of skin treated with radiation
- Cold hands
- Fever
- Mouth sores
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to bruising
[1] http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/PEMETREXED.aspx
[2] http://patentblog.kluweriplaw.com/2019/02/15/nl-lillys-pemetrexed-patent-is-valid/
[3] https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/pemetrexeddisodium
[4] https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607043.html
[5] https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607043.html
[6] https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/treating/chemotherapy/drugs-and-combination-regimens/combination-chemotherapy/gemcitabine-and-cisplatin-gemcis.html
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12714891
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24636265
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503655/
