Pemetrexed Market Size & Outlook, 2025-2033

Pemetrexed Market Overview

The global pemetrexed market size was valued at USD 2.34 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach from USD 2.38 billion in 2025 to USD 2.69 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 1.6% during the forecast period (2025–2033). The growth of the market is attributed to burgeoning consumption of chemotherapy treatments and growing occurrence of non-small lung cancer.

Key Market Indicators

• North America dominated the pemetrexed industry and accounted for a 41.59% share in 2024, driven by rising lung cancer, mesothelioma cases, lifestyle changes, pollution, and strong oncology demand.
• Based on application, the malignant pleural mesothelioma segment dominates due to asbestos exposure, while non-squamous NSCLC grows fastest, driven by smoking, pollution, and demographics.
• Based on end user, hospitals and clinics lead the market, driven by rising cancer cases, while oncology centers grow rapidly due to specialized care demand.

Market Size & Forecast

• 2024 Market Size: USD 2.34 billion
• 2033 Projected Market Size: USD 2.69 billion
• CAGR (2025–2033): 1.6%
• North America: Largest market in 2024
• Asia Pacific: Fastest-growing region

Pemetrexed disodium is a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The generic version of the drug is named pemetrexed. Currently, it is available in powder form, which is then converted to a solution for intravenous infusion. According to Cancer Research U.K., lung cancer is the third most prevalent in the U.K, which accounts for approximately 13% of all the new cancer cases occurring in a year. Moreover, it was the second most common cancer type in males, as 24,500 new cases were registered. Over the last decade, the prevalence of cancer has increased by 3%, which, in turn, has influenced the pemetrexed market in the U.K.

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Market Growth Factors

Burgeoning Consumption of Chemotherapy Treatments

The market for pemetrexed is expanding at a robust pace owing to a surge in the intake of chemotherapy drugs, rising demand for cancer treatment, and high prevalence of lung cancer. According to the WHO, lung cancer was the most commonly occurring cancer worldwide in 2024, with 2.5 million new cases, accounting for 12.4% of all new cancer cases, and it caused 1.8 million deaths which is the highest among all cancer types . Surge in the prevalence of lung cancer is estimated to boost the demand for pemetrexed as medication for the treatment of cancer.

Growing Occurrence of Non-Small Lung Cancer

The rising incidence of non-small cell lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma is anticipated to propel global pemetrexed market growth during the forecast period. According to data published by the MDPI Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025 approximately 2,417 new cases of pleural mesothelioma are diagnosed worldwide each year, and note that incidence has shown a slight increase from 2010 to 2020 with non-small cell lung cancer accounting for 80% to 85% of all lung cancer diagnoses.

Furthermore, key market players are committed to expanding the indications of their pemetrexed drugs in order to increase sales and generate high revenues.

Market Restraint

Side Effects Related to Pemetrexed Medications

The side effects related to pemetrexed can worsen the condition of patients. Pemetrexed can cause loosening of the skin, blistering, peeling, skin rashes, sores, serious lung or breathing problems, and red skin lesions. Several patients who faced certain side effects may not opt for the pemetrexed medications the next time, resulting in a slowdown of the pemetrexed market. 

• A 2025 study analyzing real-world data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) found that patients receiving pemetrexed in combination with platinum, with or without pembrolizumab, experienced a higher risk of toxicities compared to chemotherapy alone. 

Reported adverse effects included renal and urinary disorders, hepatobiliary complications, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and pneumonitis, with many cases occurring within the first three months of therapy. The study also highlighted that age and gender influenced the incidence of side effects, highlighting safety concerns that may impact patient adherence and, consequently, the pemetrexed market 

Market Opportunities

Increasing Research and Development Activities

A surge in R&D activities, as well as the introduction of new advanced therapies and products for lung cancer, as well as the presence of promising government initiatives are expected to provide opportunities for the pemetrexed market during the forecast period. 

• In March 2025, AstraZeneca Pharma India secured approval from regulatory agency CDSCOto import, sell, and distribute durvalumab (infusion solution) for small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) in patients whose disease has not progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy. This is significant because LS-SCLC has few treatment options.

This launch shows how companies are improving formulations and adding new targeted therapies thereby driving demand for existing agents like pemetrexed or push the market to adapt and compete.

Regional Insights

North America is the most significant shareholder in the global Pemetrexed market and is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. The prevalence of lung cancer patients in the U.S. is increasing rapidly as a result of increasing pollution levels, changing lifestyles, and constantly increasing demand for pemetrexed in the U.S. oncology market due to the high efficiency of the drug. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year as of 2024. Most cases are linked to long-term asbestos exposure.

Europe Market Trends

Europe is anticipated to account for an optimum share of the global pemetrexed market owing to the significant presence of Eli Lilly and Company in the region, which has exclusivity patented pemetrexed in the U.K . Lung cancer accounts for 11.6% of the 18.1 million new cancer cases and 18.4% of cancer deaths worldwide, with over 2,000,000 incidental cases and 1,760,000 deaths. Lung cancer accounts for 3% of all causes of death in Europe and approximately 20% of cancer deaths, with women accounting for one-third of all cases.

In April 2024, Amneal Pharmaceuticals launched PEMRYDI RTU®, the first ready-to-use form of pemetrexed for injection. Unlike older versions, it doesn’t need dilution, or refrigeration. It is approved for first-line treatment of metastatic non-squamous NSCLC, and for first-line treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma in patients who cannot undergo surgery.

Europe accounted for over 30% of that global revenue approximately $762.36 million. Germany: ~ accounted for $150.95 million while United Kingdom brought in $128.08 million. France also showed significant revenue with $70.14 million. Growing demand for the drug in chemotherapy treatments for lung cancer is escalating the regional growth further.

Asia Pacific Market Trends

The Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region for the pemetrexed market on account of the growing number of cancer patients in the region. For instance, the large production of raw chemical materials in China has increased the prevalence of lung cancer. According to researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India is likely to see a seven-fold increase in lung cancer cases in 2025 compared to a decade ago, owing to a lack of a population-level diagnostic tool to identify such patients. Increasing pollution levels in northern India are anticipated to increase the cases of lung cancer, which will drive the growth of the pemetrexed market. In South Korea, lung cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths. Despite the fact that smoking rates have declined over time, the incidence of lung cancer remains high. As reported by the Korea Central Cancer Registry, for 2025, new cancer cases in Korea are projected to be 304,754, with lung cancer again among the leading cancers: in men it’s also ranked 2nd or 3rd depending on measure and in women it remains in the top five.

Lamea Market Trends

LAMEA is anticipated to account for the least market share with a sluggish growth rate due to poor healthcare infrastructure and the low income of people in Africa. Limited government support for cancer treatment has been restraining the market growth in the region for the last decade. However, significant improvements in the healthcare facilities in Argentina and Brazil are anticipated to flourish market growth to some extent. Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men and the leading cause of cancer deaths in the UAE. Currently, 60%-80% of cases in the Gulf countries are diagnosed at an advanced stage, with a five-year survival rate of 10-20%.

Market Segmentation

Application Insights

The malignant pleural mesothelioma segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period owing to the high prevalence of lung cancer in developed and developing regions. Asbestos is most likely the only known physical agent that is a leading cause of human cancer, in this case, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Another unique characteristic of asbestos-related MPM is that the threat in persons exposed does not appear to decrease after asbestos exposure is discontinued.

The non-squamous segment is expected to witness a higher CAGR due to increased smoking among youngsters and women and increasing pollution causing lung cancer. NSCLC accounts for 80% to 85% of all lung cancers. NSCLC is classified into three subtypes: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. This type of lung cancer is most common in people who smoke or used to smoke, but it is also the most common form of cancer in people who do not smoke. It is more prevalent in women than in men, and it occurs at a younger age than other kinds of lung cancer.

End-User Insights

The hospital/clinics segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing number of hospitals and clinics across the globe. The increasing cases of cancer worldwide drives the demand for hospital and clinics for treatment with pemetrexed medications.

The oncology centers segment is expected to grow at a significant rate. The increasing demand for specialized care for cancer patients is increasing the demand for oncology centers for diagnosis and treatment. In 2019, there were 23.6 million new cancer diagnoses and 10 million cancer deaths which are continuously increasing due to unhealthy habits and increasing pollution. Therefore, the need for oncology centers is increasing throughout the forecast period.

List of key players in Pemetrexed Market

1. Eli Lilly and Company
2. Stada Arzneimittel AG
3. Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc
4. Fresenius Kabi USA
5. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc
6. Biocon
7. Pfizer Inc.
8. Apotex Inc
9. Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd
10. Cadila Pharmaceuticals.
11. Accord Healthcare
12. Accure Labs Pvt. Ltd
13. Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc.
14. Janssen Global Services LLC
15. Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc.

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Recent Developments

• September 2025: AstraZeneca presented positive high-level results from the final overall survival (OS) analysis of the FLAURA2 Phase III trial. The study showed that their drug Tagrisso (osimertinib) with the addition of pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival for patients with EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer.
• March 2025: AstraZeneca presented new study results at the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2025. The data reinforced Tagrisso (osimertinib) as a key therapy for EGFR-mutated lung cancer, both as a monotherapy and as a backbone for novel combinations, including those with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy in the FLAURA2 trial.