The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7502 p589
17 May 2008

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Intravenous prodrug of oral aprepitant launched in UK

Fosaprepitant, an intravenous alternative to the anti-emetic drug aprepitant, has been launched in the UK. Marketed as Ivemend, fosaprepitant is a lyophilised prodrug of oral aprepitant, indicated for prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

The pharmacological effects of fosaprepitant are attributed to aprepitant.

Intravenous fosaprepitant 115mg can be substituted for oral aprepitant 125mg ahead of chemotherapy on day 1 only of an anti-emetic regimen that includes a corticosteroid and a 5-HT3 antagonist.

Fosaprepitant should be infused intravenously over 15 minutes.