“FDA Approves New Drug for Mesothelioma Patients”
May 6, 2004
The FDA recently approved a new drug for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer normally linked to asbestos exposure.
The drug, Alimita (pemetrexed disodium), is distributed by Eli Lilly and Company. Alimita is intended for use in conjunction with cisplatin, another mesothelioma drug.
In a randomized clinical trial, patients receiving Alimita and cisplatin lived an average of one year after the start of the trial, while those taking only cisplatin lived an average of nine months.
Alimita must be supplemented with vitamin B-12 and folic acid to decrease the incidence and severity of adverse effects, which include low white blood count, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, rash and diarrhea. The drug also suppresses bone marrow; patients should immediately report any signs of infection, such as fever or chills.
Only about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed annually in the United States. Patients live an average of nine to thirteen months following diagnosis.
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