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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.
ALIMTA® (pemetrexed): Mechanism of Action
Alimta (pemetrexed) is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor that disrupts folate-dependent metabolic processes essential for cell replication.
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 several folate-dependent enzymes involved in the de novo biosynthesis of thymidine and purine nucleotides including
TS
DHFR, and
GARFT.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.1
Once in the cell, pemetrexed is converted to polyglutamate forms by the enzyme folylpolyglutamate synthetase.1
The polyglutamate forms are retained in cells and are inhibitors of TS and GARFT.1
Enclosed Prescribing Information
ALIMTA® (pemetrexed for injection), for intravenous use, Lilly
1. Alimta [package insert]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 2019.
Glossary
DHFR = dihydrofolate reductase
GARFT = glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase
TS = thymidylate synthase
Date of Last Review: July 20, 2020
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