Pemetrexed – First-Line Therapy for Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Review of Patent Literature

Background: Pemetrexed is a folate analogue metabolic inhibitor for mammalian cells. Pemetrexed is toxic to several cancer cells by interfering with their new biosynthesis of nucleotides, thus causing cell apoptosis. Presently, Pemetrexed is given to patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Objective: This review focuses on the recent patents of Pemetrexed. This assessment includes patents grouped in segments like crystalline form patent, composition related patents, product patents, as well as a method of treatment. The aim of this review is to simplify inventors with existing patents in a single place.

Methods: Data were searched from several available databases, including paid databases which include Orbit® and SciFinder®. Free databases include Worldwide Espacenet® (EPO), Patentscope® (WIPO), InPASS (Indian patent database) and Google Patents.

Results: Some new polymorph and composition-related inventions of Pemetrexed have been recently patented as its orange-book listed patents will soon expire in May 2022. Further, because of the problem of oxidation through the development and continuing storage of Pemetrexed composition, several excipients are experimented with within these patents to stabilize the same. Nevertheless, there is a need for further development of an improved composition of Pemetrexed with improved characteristics.

Conclusion: Wide research has been conducted on different processes for preparing Pemetrexed and formulation thereof. Such type of active research may clear the track for the generic companies in the United States, producing the formulation at low prices and providing universal health care at economical prices.