Pemetrexed Disodium Injection shortage
Pemetrexed Disodium Injection is currently listed in shortage by the FDA. The FDA lists 4 affected products. This page was last refreshed from FDA data on Oct 2, 2026.
Both Sandoz and Eli Lilly are permanently stopping production of pemetrexed disodium injection. Other makers — including Hospira, Accord Healthcare, Sagent, and Solco Healthcare — still list this medicine in the same strengths.
Don’t stop or change your therapy on your own — talk with your prescriber about the plan that fits you, and ask your pharmacist what’s actually available (see options).
Do you take this drug? See the ‘What to do’ recommendation from Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD →What’s in shortage — at a glance
These figures count only the manufacturers that reported this shortage to the FDA — not every company that makes Pemetrexed Disodium Injection. Other makers that haven’t reported a problem are shown in the green card below.
Shortage timeline
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Oct 16, 2025Currently in shortage4 of 4 products affected.
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Oct 16, 2025More presentations reported2 more products added to the shortage.
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Oct 10, 2025First reported to the FDA2 products first listed.
Built from FDA posting and update dates. The end date FDA publishes is the posting/update date, not a true resolution date, so durations are approximate.
What exactly is on backorder — by manufacturer
Manufacturer: Eli Lilly and Co. 📞 800-545-5979 2 NDCS click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Be Discontinued | Alimta, Injection, 500 mg/20 mL (NDC 0002-7623-01) | — | — | Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug | — |
| To Be Discontinued | Alimta, Injection, 100 mg/4 mL (NDC 0002-7640-01) | — | — | Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug | — |
Manufacturer: Sandoz Inc. 📞 800-525-8747 2 NDCS click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Be Discontinued | Pemetrexed Disodium, Injection, 100 mg/4 mL (NDC 0781-3518-76) | — | — | Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug | — |
| To Be Discontinued | Pemetrexed Disodium, Injection, 500 mg/20 mL (NDC 0781-3519-90) | — | — | Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug | — |
These rows are manufacturer reports to the FDA for Pemetrexed Disodium Injection — they do not necessarily cover every manufacturer that makes this drug. A company appears here only if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so other makers may still have stock. That’s the basis for the Where else can I get Pemetrexed Disodium Injection? options further down this page.
Why is Pemetrexed Disodium Injection in shortage?
Sandoz and Eli Lilly have both reported to the FDA that they are permanently stopping the manufacturing of their versions of pemetrexed disodium injection. This affects Sandoz's 500 mg/20 mL and 100 mg/4 mL vials, as well as Eli Lilly's brand-name Alimta in both the 100 mg/4 mL and 500 mg/20 mL sizes. No specific reason was shared publicly by either manufacturer for why they made this decision.
It's worth knowing that this report only reflects what Sandoz and Eli Lilly have filed with the FDA — it doesn't speak to what other manufacturers may be doing. No dates were provided about when remaining supplies will run out, and neither company indicated that any other size or formulation of their product will continue to be made.
Based on the manufacturer-reported reason(s) and notes on file with the FDA for Pemetrexed Disodium Injection, summarized in plain English by HelloPharmacist. A drug can be short for more than one reason, and the FDA updates these as manufacturers report changes.
What should I do if I take Pemetrexed Disodium Injection?
Pemetrexed Disodium Injection is currently on the FDA shortage list. This is a chemotherapy medicine, and I want to walk you through what the report shows so you know what to expect.
Both strengths on this report — the 500 mg/20 mL and the 100 mg/4 mL — have no available source from the two manufacturers who filed this record (Sandoz and Eli Lilly, maker of Alimta). The reason given for both is that these companies are discontinuing their manufacture of the drug. Because this is a discontinuation rather than a temporary delay, this particular supply may not return from these makers. The important point is that other companies still make pemetrexed, so your care team has paths to continue your treatment.
What you can do:
- Do not stop, skip, or change any dose on your own — your treatment should continue under your oncology team's guidance.
- Ask your pharmacy to check wholesalers and other manufacturers, since the same medicine is listed from other makers such as Hospira, Accord Healthcare, Sagent, Solco, and Dr. Reddy's. These are the same ingredient, though a given one may not be in local stock right away.
- Because these two makers are discontinuing their products, talk with your prescriber or pharmacist about sourcing the same medicine from another maker.
- Manufacturer contact numbers are listed on this page for reference; pharmacies usually handle those calls.
This information comes from national, manufacturer-reported FDA data and may not match your local pharmacy's actual stock.
- Don’t stop or change the medication on your own — talk to your prescriber first.
- If this is part of an ongoing or essential regimen (for example HIV treatment or prevention, seizure, heart, transplant, diabetes or mental-health medicines), do not skip or ration doses — contact your pharmacist or prescriber right away to arrange continued supply before you run out.
- Ask your pharmacy to check other manufacturers, strengths, package sizes, and nearby stores.
- Ask your prescriber whether a different strength, formulation, or the brand/generic version is appropriate.
Uses, dosing, side effects, prices, and the complete FDA label — written in plain English and pharmacist-reviewed.
Where else can I get Pemetrexed Disodium Injection?
FDA shortages are manufacturer-reported — a company only shows up on the shortage list if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so not every maker of Pemetrexed Disodium Injection is necessarily short. Below we pull together the other still-marketed options that are not reported in shortage: the same medicine from manufacturers that haven’t reported a problem, and alternative dosage forms. These may still be out of stock at your pharmacy, and only your prescriber or pharmacist can decide what’s right for you.
Same medicine, other manufacturers (not reported short)
Same active ingredient, dosage form & route as the shortage (matched on the FDB HICL ingredient code), from makers that have not filed a shortage with the FDA:
| Product | Strength | Form / route | Manufacturer | NDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM 1 g/40mL | Injection, Solution, Concentrate · Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | 00409-0004-04 |
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM 100 mg/4mL | Injection, Solution, Concentrate · Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | 00409-0020-02 |
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM 500 mg/20mL | Injection, Solution, Concentrate · Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | 00409-0021-03 |
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM HEMIPENTAHYDRATE 100 mg/4mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Accord Healthcare Inc. | 16729-0229-03 |
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM HEMIPENTAHYDRATE 500 mg/20mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Accord Healthcare Inc. | 16729-0230-11 |
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM HEMIPENTAHYDRATE 1 g/40mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Accord Healthcare Inc. | 16729-0244-38 |
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM HEMIPENTAHYDRATE 100 mg/4.2mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | 25021-0260-10 |
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM HEMIPENTAHYDRATE 500 mg/20mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | 25021-0261-50 |
| Pemetrexed | PEMETREXED DISODIUM HEMIPENTAHYDRATE 100 mg/1 | Injection, Powder, For Solution · Intravenous | Solco Healthcare US, LLC | 43547-0632-01 |
| Pemetrexed Disodium | PEMETREXED DISODIUM 1 g/40mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Dr. Reddys Laboratories Inc | 43598-0370-74 |
| Pemetrexed Disodium | PEMETREXED DISODIUM 100 mg/4mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Dr. Reddys Laboratories Inc | 43598-0386-62 |
| Pemetrexed Disodium | PEMETREXED DISODIUM 500 mg/20mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Dr. Reddys Laboratories Inc | 43598-0387-11 |
Therapeutic equivalents & pricing 30 productsclick to expand
Orange Book–rated equivalents of the affected strengths, with the latest NADAC price (a federal retail-acquisition benchmark, not your copay) and an evidence-based availability label. Cheapest first.
| Product | Manufacturer | Package | NADAC $/unit | AB rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alimta 500 mg/20mL | Eli | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Accord | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Sagent | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Camber | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed disodium 500 mg/20mL | Dr. | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Eugia | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Fresenius | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Qilu | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | BluePoint | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | BluePoint | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | BluePoint | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Somerset | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Zydus | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Zydus | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Meitheal | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/50mL | Meitheal | 1 vial | — | AP | Discontinued |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/20mL | Waverley | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 500 mg/50mL | NorthStar | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed Dipotassium 500 mg/20mL | Avyxa | 1 vial | — | — | FDA listed |
| Axtle 500 mg/20mL | Avyxa | 1 vial | — | — | FDA listed |
| Alimta 100 mg/4mL | Eli | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 100 mg/4mL | Accord | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 100 mg/4.2mL | Sagent | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 100 mg/4mL | Camber | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 100 mg | Solco | 100 injections | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed disodium 100 mg/4mL | Dr. | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 100 mg/4mL | Eugia | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 100 mg/4mL | Fresenius | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 100 mg/4mL | Qilu | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Pemetrexed 100 mg/4mL | BluePoint | 1 vial | — | AP | FDA listed |
Equivalents share the same ingredient, strength, dosage form and route; an AB rating means the FDA considers them substitutable. NADAC is a national retail-pharmacy acquisition benchmark from CMS — not what you pay. Availability is inferred from recent pricing, not a stock check.
Other drugs in the same treatment class
These are different medicines — not other versions of Pemetrexed Disodium Injection — that fall in the same broad treatment class (antineoplastic - antimetabolites) . They are not automatic substitutes: they can differ in how they work, dosing, effectiveness, side effects and what they’re approved to treat. Do not switch on your own. This list is for information only — ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether any of them is appropriate for you.
Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
Other oncology shortages
Pemetrexed Disodium Injection shortage FAQs
Is Pemetrexed Disodium Injection in shortage?
Which products are affected?
When will Pemetrexed Disodium Injection be available again?
Can I still get Pemetrexed Disodium somewhere?
What should I do if I take Pemetrexed Disodium Injection?
Still have a question about the Pemetrexed Disodium Injection shortage?
Ask a pharmacist about this shortage →View Pemetrexed Disodium Injection on the FDA drug-shortage database →
Where does this data come from?
/drug/shortages) — drug, manufacturer & contact, NDC/product, status, availability, reason, therapeutic category and posting/update dates. Current / To Be Discontinued = active; Resolved is kept for history. The Supply-Risk rating is assessed per active ingredient and adds the FDA NDC Directory (still-marketed manufacturers by ingredient & form); same-medicine and equivalent products use First Databank classification + CMS NADAC pricing; Medicaid use + most-affected states come from CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Reference only — confirm current status with the manufacturer or FDA before acting on it.