Pemetrexed

(Alimta®)

Alimta®

Drug updated on 9/4/2024

Dosage FormInjection (intravenous; 100 mg, 500 mg)
Drug ClassFolate analog metabolic inhibitors
Ongoing and
Completed Studies
ClinicalTrials.gov

Indication

  • Indicated in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy, for the initial treatment of patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.
  • Indicated in combination with cisplatin for the initial treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic, non-squamous NSCLC.
  • Indicated as a single agent for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic, non-squamous NSCLC whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy.
  • Indicated as a single agent for the treatment of patients with recurrent, metastatic non-squamous, NSCLC after prior chemotherapy.

Latest News

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Summary
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  • Alimta (pemetrexed) is indicated in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy for the initial treatment of patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. It is also used in combination with cisplatin for the initial treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC; as a single agent for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy; and as a single agent for the treatment of patients with recurrent, metastatic non-squamous NSCLC after prior chemotherapy.
  • This summary is based on the review of 12 systematic review(s)/meta-analysis(es). [1-12]
  • Lorlatinib demonstrated superior progression-free survival (PFS) in ALK-positive NSCLC when compared to pemetrexed-based chemotherapy (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.12-0.23).
  • Pemetrexed combined with EGFR-TKI provided a significant overall survival (OS) benefit in NSCLC compared to TKI alone (HR = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.43-0.86).
  • The combination of pembrolizumab, pemetrexed, and platinum significantly improved PFS in NSCLC compared to placebo, pemetrexed, and platinum (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.42-0.68).
  • In patients with ALK-positive NSCLC and brain metastases, Lorlatinib showed the best PFS benefit compared to other treatments.
  • Lorlatinib demonstrated a poorer safety profile compared to pemetrexed-based chemotherapy, with a higher incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse events.
  • The combination of pemetrexed with EGFR-TKI or pembrolizumab generally increased the incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse events, with particular toxicity concerns for gefitinib plus pemetrexed.
  • Pemetrexed-platinum with bevacizumab showed higher rates of anemia and thrombocytopenia but lower rates of neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and sensory neuropathy compared to paclitaxel-carboplatin with bevacizumab.

Product Monograph / Prescribing Information

Document TitleYearSource
Alimita (pemetrexed) Prescribing Information.2022Lilly USA LLC, Indianapolis, IN

Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses

Document TitleYearSource
Efficacy and safety of first-line treatments for patients with advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase mutated, non-small cell cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.2023Cancer
Overall survival and safety with pemetrexed/platinum ± Anti-VEGF followed by pemetrexed ± Anti-VEGF maintenance in advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis of 4 randomized studies.2022Clinical Lung Cancer
Efficacy and safety of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor combination therapy as first-line treatment for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated, non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.2022Cancers
Overall survival benefits of first-line treatments for Asian patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated NSCLC harboring exon 19 deletion: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.2022Cancers
Overall survival benefits of first-line treatments for asian patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC harboring L858R mutation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.2022JTO Clinical and Research Reports.
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin + S-1 versus cisplatin + other third-generation agents for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of individual participant data.2022BioMed Central Pulmonary Medicine
The efficacy and toxicity of maintenance therapy with bevacizumab plus pemetrexed versus bevacizumab/pemetrexed alone for stage IIIB/IV nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.2021Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the predictive power of MTHFR polymorphisms for pemetrexed drug efficacy and toxicity in non-small cell lung cancer patients.2021Journal of Chemotherapy
First-line treatment of advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation positive non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.2021The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Pemetrexed maintenance with or without pembrolizumab in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: a cross-trial comparison of keynote-189 versus paramount, pronounce, and JVBL.2021 Lung cancer
Clinical option of pemetrexed-based versus paclitaxel-based first-line chemotherapeutic regimens in combination with bevacizumab for advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer and optimal maintenance therapy: evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized control trials.2021BioMed Central Cancer
Efficacy and safety of first line treatments for patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor mutated, non-small cell lung cancer: systematic review and network meta-analysis.2019British Medical Journal

Clinical Practice Guidelines