The US FDA approved Alimta (pemetrexed disodium), used in combination with cisplatin (Platinol®), for use as a chemotherapy treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta will be distributed by Eli Lilly.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is usually associated with a history of asbestos exposure and is a cancer of the lining of the lungs (pleura). Asbestos fibers lodged in the lung attach to the outer lung lining and chest wall, causing tumors to grow. Patients afflicted with pleural mesothelioma usually do not learn of it until the disease is too far advanced for surgery or radiation.

According to Eli Lilly, Alimta works by stopping the production of three enzymes needed to process folic acid, which all cells need to reproduce and spread. The Alimta/cisplatin combination disrupts the processing of folic acid in cancer cells, but not healthy ones. Alimta and cisplatin is the first drug regimen proven to improve the duration of survival for patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Read more on our Mesothelioma Information Page >>