title: Pemetrexed disodium.
abstract: In February 2004, pemetrexed disodium (Alimta; Eli Lilly), an anticancer drug that targets folate-dependent reactions that are essential for cell proliferation, became the first drug to be approved by the US FDA for the treatment of the rare cancer malignant pleural mesothelioma. Its accelerated approval for the second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer followed in August 2004.
authors.affiliation: Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand. davidandcatherine@xtra.co.nz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackman
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019731:Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; D019731:Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases; C022387:phosphoribosylamine-glycine ligase