Alimtra has received European approval for histologically-based use in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Eli Lilly and Company has announced.
The approval comes after a positive response from the European Medicines Agency’s (EMEA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).
The body specifically approved pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin as a first-line treatment for NSCLC patients with other than predominantly squamous cell histology.
Richard Gaynor, of Lilly, said: “This approval opens the door for a novel, tailored approach based on histology or tissue type
“Our hope is that this study provides physicians with a powerful tool for choosing the right drug for the right patient that leads to optimal treatment results.”
The approval comes after a Phase III randomized study that looked at pemetrexed plus cisplatin versus GEMZAR(R) (gemcitabine HCl for injection) plus cisplatin.
The lead investigator of the study, Giorgio Scagliotti, said: “This study provides further evidence of the need to use a tailored approach to treating lung cancer patients, rather than simply using a particular medicine because of the treatment stage.”
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