PEMETREXED

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

High Safety Concerns with Metastatic Cancer Treatment: Metformin

35,073 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About PEMETREXED

PEMETREXED is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Based on analysis of 35,073 FDA adverse event reports, PEMETREXED has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for PEMETREXED include MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION, ANAEMIA, DISEASE PROGRESSION, OFF LABEL USE, NAUSEA. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for PEMETREXED.

AI Safety Analysis

Pemetrexed has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 35,073 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Malignant Neoplasm Progression, Anaemia, Disease Progression. Of classified reports, 97.9% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Severe adverse events such as malignancy progression and death are common.

Significant hematological toxicity, including anemia and neutropenia, is frequently reported. Respiratory issues, including pneumonia and interstitial lung disease, are notable safety concerns.

Patients taking Pemetrexed should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Interactions with other drugs, such as methotrexate, may increase toxicity. Warnings include monitoring for hematological and respiratory adverse events. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Pemetrexed received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 97.9% serious event ratio across 19,550 classified reports. The score accounts for 35,073 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION1,596 reports
ANAEMIA1,170 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION1,066 reports
OFF LABEL USE998 reports
NAUSEA979 reports
NEUTROPENIA952 reports
DIARRHOEA929 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE897 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA896 reports
PANCYTOPENIA871 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY760 reports
VOMITING755 reports
DEATH731 reports
PNEUMONIA716 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA704 reports
FATIGUE695 reports
DYSPNOEA624 reports
PYREXIA617 reports
ASTHENIA592 reports
DECREASED APPETITE567 reports
RASH543 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION537 reports
PNEUMONITIS456 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM423 reports
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE401 reports
LEUKOPENIA370 reports
MYELOSUPPRESSION360 reports
THERAPY PARTIAL RESPONDER354 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE330 reports
PLEURAL EFFUSION327 reports
SEPSIS324 reports
NEOPLASM PROGRESSION319 reports
CONSTIPATION313 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED310 reports
TUBULOINTERSTITIAL NEPHRITIS309 reports
RENAL FAILURE298 reports
NON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER290 reports
DRUG RESISTANCE281 reports
MUCOSAL INFLAMMATION275 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION275 reports
DEHYDRATION272 reports
COLITIS269 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT266 reports
HYPOTHYROIDISM263 reports
HYPERTENSION256 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED255 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED255 reports
COUGH231 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED227 reports
DIZZINESS214 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION208 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL208 reports
MALAISE207 reports
HYPOKALAEMIA206 reports
STOMATITIS206 reports
HYPOTENSION205 reports
METASTASES TO CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM203 reports
HAEMATOTOXICITY199 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS199 reports
HEPATIC CYTOLYSIS198 reports
PAIN196 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED195 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED194 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK193 reports
NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED191 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN184 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED184 reports
HEPATOTOXICITY183 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE183 reports
HEADACHE182 reports
HEPATITIS182 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA182 reports
PRURITUS182 reports
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED181 reports
INFECTION166 reports
RENAL TUBULAR NECROSIS165 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION163 reports
ERYTHEMA162 reports
EPISTAXIS161 reports
HAEMOPTYSIS159 reports
BONE MARROW FAILURE153 reports
DRUG INTERACTION152 reports
FEBRILE BONE MARROW APLASIA151 reports
HYPERTHYROIDISM150 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL148 reports
PROTEINURIA141 reports
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS139 reports
DYSPHAGIA138 reports
HEPATIC FUNCTION ABNORMAL138 reports
CHEST PAIN136 reports
PERICARDIAL EFFUSION135 reports
ARTHRALGIA134 reports
RASH MACULO PAPULAR130 reports
LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA129 reports
METASTASES TO LIVER129 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE128 reports
IMMUNE MEDIATED ENTEROCOLITIS127 reports
SKIN TOXICITY126 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE122 reports
IMMUNE MEDIATED LUNG DISEASE122 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Malignant neoplasm progression and death are the most serious reactions.
  • Hematological toxicity, including anemia and neutropenia, is a key safety signal.
  • Respiratory issues, such as pneumonia and interstitial lung disease, are frequent.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 9,905, Female: 7,359, Unknown: 56. The most frequently reported age groups are age 68 (617 reports), age 66 (602 reports), age 69 (597 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 19,550 classified reports for PEMETREXED:

  • Serious: 19,148 reports (97.9%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 402 reports (2.1%)
Serious 97.9%Non-Serious 2.1%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Male9,905 (57.2%)
Female7,359 (42.5%)
Unknown56 (0.3%)

Reports by Age

Age 68617 reports
Age 66602 reports
Age 69597 reports
Age 70577 reports
Age 71574 reports
Age 63568 reports
Age 60540 reports
Age 62540 reports
Age 67538 reports
Age 58529 reports
Age 72511 reports
Age 74500 reports
Age 65489 reports
Age 64483 reports
Age 61471 reports
Age 73419 reports
Age 59413 reports
Age 57378 reports
Age 75368 reports
Age 56367 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Interactions with other drugs, such as methotrexate, may increase toxicity. Warnings include monitoring for hematological and respiratory adverse events.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Pemetrexed, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include malignant neoplasm progression, anaemia, disease progression, off label use, nausea. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should be closely monitored for signs of hematological and respiratory issues. Inform healthcare providers of all medications and supplements to avoid potential drug interactions. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA closely monitors these reports and may require additional safety studies or label changes based on ongoing data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Pemetrexed?

The FDA has received approximately 35,073 adverse event reports associated with Pemetrexed. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Pemetrexed?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Pemetrexed include Malignant Neoplasm Progression, Anaemia, Disease Progression, Off Label Use, Nausea. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Malignant Neoplasm Progression (1,596 reports), Anaemia (1,170 reports), Disease Progression (1,066 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Pemetrexed.

What percentage of Pemetrexed adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 19,550 classified reports, 19,148 (97.9%) were classified as serious and 402 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Pemetrexed (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Pemetrexed break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 9,905, Female: 7,359, Unknown: 56. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Pemetrexed?

The most frequently reported age groups for Pemetrexed adverse events are: age 68: 617 reports, age 66: 602 reports, age 69: 597 reports, age 70: 577 reports, age 71: 574 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Pemetrexed?

The primary manufacturer associated with Pemetrexed adverse event reports is Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Pemetrexed?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Pemetrexed include: Neutropenia, Diarrhoea, Drug Ineffective, Thrombocytopenia, Pancytopenia. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Pemetrexed?

You can report adverse events from Pemetrexed to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Pemetrexed's safety score and what does it mean?

Pemetrexed has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Severe adverse events such as malignancy progression and death are common.

What are the key safety signals for Pemetrexed?

Key safety signals identified in Pemetrexed's adverse event data include: Malignant neoplasm progression and death are the most serious reactions.. Hematological toxicity, including anemia and neutropenia, is a key safety signal.. Respiratory issues, such as pneumonia and interstitial lung disease, are frequent.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Pemetrexed interact with other drugs?

Interactions with other drugs, such as methotrexate, may increase toxicity. Warnings include monitoring for hematological and respiratory adverse events. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Pemetrexed.

What should patients know before taking Pemetrexed?

Patients should be closely monitored for signs of hematological and respiratory issues. Inform healthcare providers of all medications and supplements to avoid potential drug interactions.

Are Pemetrexed side effects well-documented?

Pemetrexed has 35,073 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Significant hematological toxicity, including anemia and neutropenia, is frequently reported. The volume of reports for Pemetrexed reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Pemetrexed?

The FDA closely monitors these reports and may require additional safety studies or label changes based on ongoing data. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to PEMETREXED based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

methotrexatecisplatincarboplatinpemetrexedfluorouracil
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.