This is the Orphan Drug designation of Glivec as of February 14th, 2001. It has been granted Orphan Drug designation by the United States, European Union, and Japan. The U.S. F.D.A. has given the drug fast track status, indicating potential improvement over available treatments of serious/life-threatening conditions.
Sponsored by Novartis Europharm Limited, Dr. Brian Druker has developed this drug as a treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, with potential applications in treating certain types of cancer. The drug targets an abnormal protein produced by a chromosomal abnormality present in most patients afflicted with CMLcalled the Philadelphia chromosome. The drug is intended to disrupt the cellular signalling pathways that are part of tumor growth.
Please see Glivec for more information.