GlivecŪ (imatinib) is indicated for the treatment of
patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+)
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL),
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), and CML in
blast crisis, accelerated phase, or in chronic phase
after failure of IFN- therapy - as an anti-cancer
drug.
Chronic Myelogneous Leukemia (CML) is an attractive
target for a rationally designed drug development
program. The hallmark of CML, the Ph chromosome,
contains the specific causative genetic abnormality
that results in constitutive activation of the
Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase.
GlivecŪ targets the molecular cause of CML and is an
effective and well-tolerated oral therapy. By
inhibiting only the specific cause of the disease,
GlivecŪ brings to fruition the goal of molecularly
targeted therapy.
GlivecŪ, a derivative of 2-phenylaminopyrimidine, is
a small molecule antagonist with activity against
protein tyrosine kinases. It was chosen because of
its potent and specific inhibition of Bcr-Abl.(1-3,5-7)
The Global Product Monograph is available in PDF
format at
GIST
Clinical Monograph
