Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Raltitrexed (tradename Tomudex) is an injectable cytotoxin or cell killer.  Raltitrexed belongs to a group of drugs known as antineoplastics or antimetabolites that prevent cell growth and lead to the elimination of tumors. Between October 8 through 12, 2010, a global pharmaceutical distribution company called Hospira sponsored a medical symposium at the 35^th congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Milan Italy, to promote the benefits of Tomudex. 

Researchers and experts affiliated with the Netherlands Cancer Institute (which conducted a 2003 study), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the Lung Cancer Group, and the National Cancer Institute of Canada (which conducted a 2005 study) reported to the symposium that the combination of Tomudex and Platinol (cisplatin) improves cancer patient survival compared with just Platinol alone.

Referring to the clinical trials of raltitrexed in combination with cisplatin, speakers reported that raltitrexed improved the median overall survival by 2.8 months compared with patients who were treated with cisplatin alone.  Additionally, the administration of raltitrexed with cisplatin was associated with longer “progression-free survival” (by 1.3 months) as compared to the use of cisplatan alone, according to these studies.

Professor JP van Meerbeeck, lead author on the 2005 study of raltitrexed, welcomed adding the new option of combining raltitrexed and cisplatin to the treatment options for malignant mesothelioma.  Professor Meerbeeck noted that this combination therapy improves mesothelioma patient outcomes with no detrimental effect on quality of life as compared to cisplatin alone.

Another antimetabolite commonly used with cisplatin is Alimta. However, one side effect of Alimta is reports of myelosuppression (decrease in red and white blood cells and/or platelets) which can cause anemia, neutropenia, fatigue, risk of infections and excessive bleeding.  In the raltitrexed studies, the authors state they did not observe the myelosuppression observed with Alimta. One advantage, therefore, that Tomudex (raltitrexed) has over Alimta is that Tomudex does not require supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 to prevent toxicity.              

Alimta use in conjunction with Platinol (cisplatin) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2004. Tomudex has not been approved by the U.S. FDA.