In February 2004, pemetrexed disodium (Alimta; Eli Lilly), an anticancer drug that targets folate-dependent reactions that are essential for cell proliferation, became the first drug to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of the rare cancer malignant pleural mesothelioma. Its accelerated approval for the second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer, which will considerably increase its market potential, followed in August 2004.

In February 2004, pemetrexed disodium (Alimta; Eli Lilly), an anticancer drug that targets folate-dependent reactions that are essential for cell proliferation, became the first drug to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of the rare cancer malignant pleural mesothelioma. Its accelerated approval for the second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer, which will considerably increase its market potential, followed in August 2004.