Which company develops and produces the original imatinib drug?

Imatinib, trade name Gleevec (Gleevec or Glivec), is a landmark targeted anti-cancer drug developed and marketed by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis. As the first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), its advent marks the true beginning of the era of "targeted therapy" and has played a revolutionary role in the treatment of cancers such as chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Novartis has conducted in-depth research on the key role of the BCR-ABL fusion gene in the pathogenesis of leukemia since the 1990s, and eventually developed imatinib, a small molecule drug that can specifically inhibit this target. In 2001, the U.S. FDA officially approved imatinib for the treatment of CML patients. This event was hailed as a turning point in medical history.

Globally, Novartis sells this drug under the brand namesGleevec (in the United States, Canada and other regions) and Glivec (in Europe, Asia and other countries). Due to its strong pertinence, low toxicity, and convenient oral administration, imatinib quickly became one of the best-selling anti-cancer targeted drugs in the world and led the development boom of a series of targeted drugs. Its breakthrough in the treatment of GIST is equally important, becoming the first molecularly targeted drug approved for this disease.

Now, as the patent expires, generic versions of imatinib have been launched in many countries and regions around the world, which has significantly reduced the cost of treatment and improved drug accessibility. However, in clinical practice, the original drug Gleevec still retains high recognition among many patients because of its quality stability and long-term efficacy data. Whether it is an original drug or a generic drug, imatinib, as a classic representative of BCR-ABL targeted therapy, is still the first-line drug for the treatment of CML. It has extended the survival period and improved the quality of life for countless patients, and also established Novartis’ important position in the global cancer treatment field.

Reference materials:https://www.gleevec.com/