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Alimta ® (pemetrexed for injection)
100 mg and 500 mg vials
This information is provided in response to your request. Resources may contain information about doses, uses, formulations and populations different from product labeling. See Prescribing Information above, if applicable.
What is the mechanism of action of Alimta® (pemetrexed)?
Alimta (pemetrexed) is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor that disrupts folate-dependent metabolic processes essential for cell replication.
Detailed Information
Pemetrexed is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor that disrupts folate-dependent metabolic processes essential for cell replication.1
Data From In Vitro Studies
In vitro studies show that pemetrexed inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase, and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT), which are folate-dependent enzymes involved in the de novo biosynthesis of thymidine and purine nucleotides.1
Mechanism of Action
Pemetrexed is taken into cells by membrane carriers such as the reduced folate carrier and membrane folate binding protein transport systems. Once in the cell, pemetrexed is converted to polyglutamate forms by the enzyme folylpolyglutamate synthetase. The polyglutamate forms are retained in cells and are inhibitors of TS and GARFT.1
Enclosed Prescribing Information
Reference
1Alimta [package insert]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 2022.
Date of Last Review: May 05, 2023