Pemetrexed Pfizer is a cancer medicine used to treat two types of lung cancer: * malignant pleural mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lungs that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos), where it is used together with cisplatin in patients who have not received chemotherapy before and whose cancer cannot be removed by surgery; * advanced non\-small\-cell lung cancer of the kind known as ‘non\-squamous’, where it is used either in combination with cisplatin in previously untreated patients or on its own in patients who have previously received cancer treatment. It can also be used as a maintenance treatment in patients who have received a platinum\-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed Pfizer contains the active substance pemetrexed and is a ‘generic medicine’. This means that Pemetrexed Pfizer contains the same active substance and works in the same way as a ‘reference medicine’ already authorised in the EU. The reference medicine for Pemetrexed Pfizer is Alimta.
Therapeutic Indication
**Malignant pleural mesothelioma** Pemetrexed Pfizer in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. **Non\-small cell lung cancer** Pemetrexed Pfizer in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first\-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non\-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed Pfizer is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non\-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum\-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed Pfizer is indicated as monotherapy for the second\-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non\-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology.
Therapeutic Area (MeSH)
ATC Code
L01BA04
ATC Item
N/A
Pharmacotherapeutic Group
Antineoplastic agents
Active Substance (Summary)
INN / Common Names
EMA Name
Pemetrexed Pfizer (previously Pemetrexed Hospira)
Medicine Name
Pemetrexed Pfizer (previously Pemetrexed Hospira)
Aliases
N/ANo risk management plan link.
