Pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly has said that its drug Alimta is being trialed for use in first line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which sees it used in combination with platinum-based treatments.

A phase II trial found that a combination of the platinum-based carboplatin, Alimta and Avastin could be used together for treating the cancer.

Alimta interferes with the reproduction process of cancer cells. It is currently being studied in combination with a number of drugs used in the treatment of NSCLC.

"We are extremely pleased that data continues to demonstrate the ability of the combination of Alimta and a platinum agent like carboplatin to serve as a reliable chemotherapeutic foundation for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer," said Richard Gaynor, vice president, cancer research and global oncology platform leader for Lilly.

"We are confident that Alimta will continue to provide notable benefits for patients with thoracic cancers and have great hopes for its potential in other tumour types," he added.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd