pemetrexed

Pemetrexed is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor and antimetabolite chemotherapy drug. It works by blocking several enzymes involved in the synthesis of nucleotides required for DNA and RNA production in rapidly dividing cells such as cancer cells. This inhibition prevents cancer cells from making and repairing DNA so they cannot grow and multiply[5][7]. Pemetrexed is primarily used to treat non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread or is locally advanced (in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy or pembrolizumab), as maintenance therapy after initial treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy if the disease has not progressed, and for recurrent NSCLC after prior chemotherapy. It is also indicated in combination with cisplatin for the first-line treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma that cannot be removed by surgery[1][3][4].

Brand names

AlimtaPemfexyAxtleArmisartePemetrexed AccordPemetrexed Fresenius KabiPemrydi Rtu

Other names

pemetrexed disodium heptahydrate (chemical form)L-Glutamic acid N-[4-[2-(2-amino-4-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-yl)ethyl]benzoyl]- (IUPAC name)Multitargeted Antifolate[2][8][10]