pemetrexed + pembrolizumab

Pemetrexed + pembrolizumab is a combination therapy used primarily in the treatment of advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is being investigated for other cancers such as chordoma. Pemetrexed is an antifolate chemotherapy agent that inhibits multiple folate-dependent enzymes involved in nucleotide synthesis, thereby disrupting DNA and RNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells. Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor on T cells, blocking its interaction with PD-L1 and PD-L2, which enhances the immune system's ability to detect and destroy cancer cells. This combination has demonstrated improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy alone in NSCLC patients regardless of PD-L1 expression status[1][2][5]. The regimen may be administered with or without platinum-based chemotherapy depending on patient characteristics[3]. It is approved for first-line treatment of metastatic non-squamous NSCLC without EGFR or ALK genomic aberrations, and under investigation for other indications including chordoma[4].

Brand names

KEYTRUDAALIMTA