First Maintenance Treatment for Mesothelioma Approved by FDA

Pemetrexed, also known as Alimta, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a maintenance drug therapy for advanced lung cancer, including mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of nonsquamous, non-small cell lung cancer that is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. Any advances in treatments that extend survival times are vitally important as there is no known cure for mesothelioma.   This is the first time the FDA has approved a drug for maintenance therapy for patients who have stable non-small cell lung cancer.

 

Pemetrexed, a folate analougue metabolic inhibitor, was first approved for treating patients with mesothelioma in 2004. In 2008, it was approved for treating other advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancers in combination with another drug, cisplatin. Recent results from a study that revealed overall survival rates improved for patients who received received maintenance treatment with pemetrexed prompted the latest FDA approval. 

 

Using the drug as part of maintenance therapy is a new approach to treating mesothelioma, as most patients whose tumors respond to chemotherapy do not receive further treatment after initial chemotherapy cycles. Reported side effects can include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, damage to blood cells, numbness in extremeties, and skin rash. 

 

Treating physicians should inform qualifying patients that patients with mesothelioma may gain three months more of survival time by following a platinum-based chemotherapy with a maintenance regimen of pemetrexed and good supportive care.

 

For full details of data reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, read ASCO: Maintenance Pemetrexed Extends NSCLC Survival by Three Months.   

 

Pemetrexed, marketed as Alimta, is manufactured and distributed by Eli Lilly & Co. For prescribing and safety information visit www.ALIMTA.com.