Eli Lilly and Co. announced it has received European Union approval for its Alimta drug as a first-line treatment for the non-squamous type of non small cell lung cancer. The approval means Alimta can be used in combination with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin as a first-line treatment for this specific type of cancer.

Previously, Alimta was approved as a second-line, single agent for the treatment of people with locally advanced or metastatic non small cell lung cancer after they had received chemotherapy.

Pemetrexed, the active ingredient in Alimta, has also been approved in combination with cisplatin in other countries for the treatment of people with malignant pleural mesothelioma when their condition is unresectable or who are not candidates for curative surgery.

In addition, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in London (CHMP) adopted the following changes to the marketing authorization for Alimta:

Alimta in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treaetment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology.

About Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer and represents 85 to 90 percent of all lung cancers. NSCLC has five-tier staging, starting at 0 and rising to the severity of stage IV(4). NSCLC can spread through the lymphatic system, penetrating the chest lining, ribs, and the nerves and blood vessels that lead to the arm. The liver, bones and brain are potential targets if the cancerous cells enter the bloodstream.

NSCLC is defined as a group of histologies, that is, tumor types differentiated by cellular structure. The most common NSCLC histology types are squamous (or epidermoid) carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma. These histologies are often classified together because to date, approaches to diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and treatment have been similar.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Cancer Report, lung cancer is the world's most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death for men and women. More than 1 million people die from lung cancer each year.