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Alimta vs. Taxotere -- Similar Survival, Fewer Side Effects In Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2003--In a head-to-head trial comparing Alimta(R) (pemetrexed) to Taxotere(R) (docetaxel), Alimta showed a similar survival benefit with significantly fewer side effects in patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results of this Phase III trial -- the largest Phase III trial ever conducted in second-line NSCLC -- were presented today at the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which is being held in Chicago.

"Before Taxotere, we had no agent that was proven to prolong life for patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer," said Nasser Hanna, M.D., who presented the findings and is an assistant professor of medicine at Indiana University Cancer Center. "Now, with these data on Alimta, we have observed a survival advantage, just as we have with Taxotere, but with fewer side effects."
Today's announcement was based on a global study of 571 patients with NSCLC previously treated with chemotherapy. Of these patients, 283 were randomized to receive Taxotere (75 mg/m2 on day one of a 21-day cycle; one-hour infusion). The remaining 288 patients received Alimta (500 mg/m2 on day one of a 21-day cycle; 10-minute infusion) supplemented with vitamin B12 and folic acid. Unlike Alimta, which is an investigational agent, Taxotere is approved for use in the treatment of first- and second-line NSCLC in both the U.S. and Europe.

According to the results:

"Patients with cancer who are being treated in the second-line setting must heavily consider the risk-benefit ratio of another course of chemotherapy. It can be a difficult balancing act, but in this study, patients who received Alimta retained the chance of a benefit, but with fewer side effects, and that is important," said Paolo Paoletti, M.D., vice president of oncology products at Eli Lilly and Company. He added that Lilly is also evaluating the activity of Alimta in the first-line treatment of NSCLC.

Alimta in First-Line NSCLC

At this year's ASCO meeting, the following abstracts are being presented involving the use of Alimta in the first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC:

"Alimta has already shown promising activity when combined with cisplatin in malignant pleural mesothelioma, a difficult-to-treat cancer in the lining of the lungs, and today's data support use with platinum compounds for non-small cell lung cancer," said Christian Manegold, professor of medicine at the University of Heidelberg, and consultant for medical oncology at the Thoracic Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany. "These findings are especially meaningful in Europe where platinum regimens provide feasible alternatives so patients may receive treatment on an outpatient basis. With their ease of use, Alimta combinations could provide attractive and convenient choices for these patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer."

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