Two medicines, side by side
Pemetrexed vs paclitaxel
Pemetrexed and paclitaxel are both labeled for lung cancer. Drugs@FDA records approvals of pemetrexed since 2004 and of paclitaxel since 1992. In FDA's classes, pemetrexed is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor and paclitaxel a microtubule inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the pemetrexed FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 8, 2025); the paclitaxel FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 21, 2026).
Highlights of the pemetrexed record
Pemetrexed (Alimta) · label of October 8, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAXTLE is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor indicated: in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy, for the initial treatment of patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. ( 1.1 ) in combination with cisplatin for the initial treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic, non-squamous NSCLC. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 4, 2004
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 5
Highlights of the paclitaxel record
Paclitaxel (Taxol) · label of January 21, 2026
Paclitaxel Injection, USP should be administered under the supervision of a physician experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Appropriate management of complications is possible only when adequate diagnostic and treatment facilities are readily available. Anaphylaxis and severe hypersensitivity reactions characterized by dyspnea and hypotension requiring treatment, angioedema, and generalized urticaria have occurred in 2%-4% of patients receiving paclitaxel in clinical trials.
Used for
From the label: indicationsPaclitaxel Injection, USP is indicated as subsequent therapy for the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the ovary. As first-line therapy, paclitaxel is indicated in combination with cisplatin. Paclitaxel is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast cancer administered sequentially to standard doxorubicin-containing combination chemotherapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Pemetrexed label of October 8, 2025, Paclitaxel label of January 21, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do pemetrexed and paclitaxel differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, pemetrexed is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor and paclitaxel a microtubule inhibitor.
Only the paclitaxel label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: pemetrexed since 2022; paclitaxel since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Pemetrexed | Paclitaxel | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Lung cancer | Breast cancer, Lung cancer |
| Pharmacologic class | Folate Analog Metabolic Inhibitor | Microtubule Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Pemetrexed is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor that disrupts folate-dependent metabolic processes essential for cell replication. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination The total systemic clearance of pemetrexed is 91.8 mL/min and the elimination half-life of pemetrexed is 3.5 hours in patients with normal renal function (creatinine clearance of 90 mL/min). | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 4, 2004 | December 29, 1992 |
| First generic approved | May 25, 2022 | January 25, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 15 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | n/a |
| 12-month price change | n/a | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 37,889 | 98,464 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to pemetrexed
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions