FDA clears new use for Eli Lilly's Alimta

US drug major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) says that patients may receive Alimta (pemetrexed for injection) as a maintenance therapy following first-line Alimta plus cisplatin for locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NS NSCLC). The US Food and Drug Administration approved the label inclusion of Phase III data that demonstrated progression-free and overall survival advantages in the continuation maintenance setting for these patients, the company noted.

Appropriate patients can now start with Alimta plus cisplatin and continue with in the maintenance setting in advanced or metastatic NS NSCLC. Alimta is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NS NSCLC whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. Alimta is not indicated for patients with squamous-cell NSCLC. Myelosuppression is usually the dose-limiting toxicity with Alimta therapy.

Offers improved survival benefit