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Alimta and Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is one of the most difficult forms of cancer to treat. There is no cure for this rare condition and treatment options are typically designed to relieve symptoms. Alimta® (pemetrexed) is the first chemotherapy medication specifically approved for the treatment of mesothelioma. In conjunction with Cisplatin, Alimta® has been the most effective form of treatment administered to pleural mesothelioma patients who are not candidates for surgery.

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004, Alimta® is a medication that blocks the enzymes required for DNA replication and cell division. The chemotherapy drug was invented by Edward C. Taylor within Princeton University’s chemistry department. During the developmental stages, Princeton’s lab did not have the facilities to turn the compound into an effective medication, which is why the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company was brought in for assistance. After 12 years of combined research between Princeton and Eli Lilly, the compound finally became the cancer medication Alimta.

As with any chemotherapy medication, side effects of Alimta® may vary from patient to patient. Some of the most common side effects experienced by pleural mesothelioma patients include low blood cell counts, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, skin rash and mouth, throat or lip sores. Physicians will often prescribe patients to take B12 and folic acid supplements when beginning treatment with Alimta®. An oral steroid may also be recommended to help minimize any side effects.

After being on the market since 2004, Alimta® is already the most successful new cancer drug in relation to sales. The medication is being used in 92 countries and is the only medication approved for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma. In recent years, Alimta® has increased the mesothelioma life expectancy for many patients around the world. It is currently in several clinical trials for breast, head, neck and thyroid cancer.

Sources

1. http://www.alimta.com/Pages/treatmentForMPM.aspx
2. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm110261.htm