Basic information and features of Imatinib/Gleevec tablets

Imatinib/Gleevec (Imatinib) is a targeted drug widely used in the treatment of various malignant tumors. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that prevents the proliferation of tumor cells by inhibiting the activity of certain specific tyrosine kinases. Imatinib was first developed by Novartis and was approved by the US FDA in 2001 for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Since then, the indications of imatinib have continued to expand, including the treatment of other types of cancer, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), systemic sclerosis, etc.

The pharmacological mechanism of imatinib mainly works by selectively inhibiting the abnormal tyrosine kinase produced by theBCR-ABL fusion gene, thereby blocking the proliferation of cancer cells related to the fusion gene such as CML. In addition, imatinib can also inhibit other targets related to tumor growth such as c-kit and PDGF receptors. These properties make imatinib an effective targeted drug against a variety of malignancies.

In clinical application, the common dosage form of imatinib is oral tablets, and common specifications include100mg and 400mg. Depending on the patient's condition, the dose can be gradually adjusted from the initial dose of 400 mg once a day to the maximum dose. For some patients, the therapeutic dose of imatinib may also be individualized based on liver and renal function, drug tolerance, and the patient's individual response.

One of the greatest advantages of imatinib is the specificity of its treatment. Unlike traditional chemotherapy drugs, imatinib does not directly act on all cells, but specifically inhibits tyrosine kinases in tumor cells, thereby minimizing damage to normal cells while treating tumors. This characteristic makes imatinib less toxic and can effectively improve patients' quality of life.

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