Pemetrexed

Chemical formula: C₂₀H₂₁N₅O₆  Molecular mass: 427.411 g/mol  PubChem compound: 446556

Active ingredient description

Pemetrexed is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor that exerts its action by disrupting folate-dependent metabolic processes essential for cell replication. In vitro studies have shown that pemetrexed inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT) and and to a lesser extent aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFT), which are folate-dependent enzymes involved in the de novo biosynthesis of thymidine and purine nucleotides. 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. Polyglutamation is a time- and concentration-dependent process that occurs in tumor cells and, is thought to occur to a lesser extent, in normal tissues. Polyglutamated metabolites are thought to have an increased intracellular half-life resulting in prolonged drug action in malignant cells.

Medicine classification

This medicinal substance has been classified in the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification according to its main therapeutic use as follows:

ATC code Group title Classification
L01BA04 Pemetrexed L Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents → L01 Antineoplastic agents → L01B Antimetabolites → L01BA Folic acid analogues
Discover more medicines within L01BA04

Product monographs

Competent medicine agencies globally have authorized commercialization of this active ingredient according to these medication package inserts (MPIs):

Title Information Source Document Type  
ARMISARTE Concentrate for solution for infusion European Medicines Agency (EU) MPI, EU: SmPC

Structural formula

Graphic representation of the active ingredient's molecular structure

External identifiers

CAS Substance: 137281-23-3
DrugBank Drug: DB00642
KEGG Drug: D07472
PubChem Compound: 446556
RxNorm Ingredient: 68446
SNOMED-CT Concept: 409159000
Pemetrexed (substance)
UNII Identifier: 04Q9AIZ7NO
PEMETREXED

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