CHMP gives nod for Lilly's Alimta in locally-advanced NSCLC

US drug major Eli Lilly's Alimta (pemetrexed for injection) has been recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency's (EMEA)  Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for as monotherapy  for the maintenance treatment of locally-advanced or metastatic  non-small cell lung cancer with other than predominantly squamous cell  histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately  following platinum-based chemotherapy. Following a positive opinion  by the CHMP, any potential approval in the European Union is usually  granted by the European Commission within two months. Lilly has also  filed for approval of pemetrexed in the same indication with the US  Food and Drug Administration. If cleared, Alimta will be the first  chemotherapy approved for this indication.