Drug reference

Pemetrexed

Antimetabolite · Antineoplastic

AntimetaboliteAntineoplasticATC null

CDSCO approvedSchedule H

EXCRETION

—

not curated

INTERACTIONS

12 major

SEVERE in our sources

PREGNANCY

Avoid (toxicity in animal studies)

FDA category + note

Top interactionssee all 12 →

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Mechanism

Pemetrexed inhibits thymidylate transferase and other folate-dependent enzymes.

Indications

Treatment of unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma which has not previously been treated with chemotherapy (in combination with cisplatin)First-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology (in combination with cisplatin)Second-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology (monotherapy)Maintenance treatment in locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology that has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy (monotherapy)ovarian cancermesotheliomaadenocarcinomas of the lungMesoepitheliomaNon-small cell lung carcinoma

Dosing

Adult: Pembrolizumab 25 mg per 1 ml Keytruda 100mg/4ml concentrate. Pembrolizumab 50 mg Keytruda 50mg powder for concentrate for

Pharmacokinetics

Onset

not specified

Peak effect

not specified

Protein binding

not specified

Metabolism

converted to polyglutamates (PGs) intracellularly

Contraindications

Pregnancy
Men wishing to father a child during or within 6 months after treatment

Side effects

Common

Appetite decreasedfatiguemucositisnauseaneuropathy sensoryoedemapainrenal disorderskin reactionsstomatitisvomitingerythematous and pruritic rash (in 40% of patients)myelosuppression (mirrors methotrexate toxicity)DiarrhoeaMyelosuppressionPainful, itching erythematous rash ('hand-foot syndrome')

Serious