GLEEVEC

GLEEVEC (imatinib) is an oral small-molecule protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved in 2001 that selectively targets BCR-ABL and other kinases including c-Kit and PDGF receptors. It is indicated across a broad spectrum of hematologic malignancies (CML, AML, Ph+ ALL) and solid tumors including gastrointestinal stromal tumors, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and melanoma, as well as non-malignant conditions like hypereosinophilic syndrome and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. GLEEVEC functions by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in BCR-ABL positive leukemic cells and c-Kit mutant tumor cells. As a foundational tyrosine kinase inhibitor with life cycle approaching loss of exclusivity, it remains a standard-of-care agent but faces significant competitive pressure from newer-generation inhibitors.