Eli Lilly has submitted an application with the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for the approval of Alimta^®, in combination with cisplatin, as a first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The EMEA has previously approved Alimta as a single agent, second-line therapy for advanced NSCLC.

The submission is based on the results of a recently-completed study that compared Alimta plus cisplatin to Gemzar^>® plus cisplatin and showed that the Alimta treatment regimen had similar efficacy to the Gemzar-based one, but had a better toxicity profile and greater convenience for the patient.

Gemzar is a leading first-line treatment for NSCLC.

Aside from its previously-approved use for NSCLC, Alimta has also been approved, when used with cisplatin, for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Labels: LungCancer, mesothelioma