Pemecine

Pemecine is a pemetrexed-based antineoplastic agent developed by CKD OTTO Pharmaceuticals, a joint venture between Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical and PT Otto Pharmaceutical Industries. As an antifolate chemotherapy drug, it works by disrupting folate-dependent metabolic processes essential for cell replication. Specifically, it inhibits three key enzymes: thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT), thereby preventing the synthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides required for DNA and RNA production. Pemecine is primarily indicated for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (in combination with cisplatin) and locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is manufactured as a sterile liquid injection and lyophilized powder at CKD OTTO's facility in Indonesia.

Brand names

Pemecine

Other names

pemetrexedpemetrexed disodium