Alimta Gets The Fast Track in Japan

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to reduce the review period for the mesothelioma drug Alimta (also known as Pemetrexed) to one year. In Japan, the review process for new drugs usually takes about 2 years.

This priority review decision by the Japanese authorities comes as no surprise, as an alarming percentage of Japanese citizens have developed asbestos cancer as a result of asbestos exposure in the workplace.

The Japanese government didn't ban the two most dangerous forms of asbestos until 1995.

Click Here for the Asbestos Cancer / Mesothelioma Website