Gleevec
Quick Facts
Imatinib
Date Approved
May 10, 2001
Manufacturer
Novartis
Status
On the market Approved Uses
Chronic myelogenous leukemia
Serious Side Effects
Heart failure
Other cardiac injuries Related Topics
Defective Drugs
Gleevec Side Effects May Be Linked To Heart Failure Lawsuits
Gleevec | Lawsuits, Lawyers | Side Effects: Heart Failure, Cardiac Injuries
Gleevec has recently been linked to heart failure and other serious cardiac injuries. Gleevec, which is known generically as imatinib, is manufactured by Novartis and was approved by the FDA in 2001 to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML. In the first half of 2006, Gleevec generated $1.2 billion in revenue. Gleevec is the first member of a new class of agents that inhibit specific tyrosine kinase enzymes. In Europe, the drug is sold under the name Glivec and is approved to treat CML as well as gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
The recent warning came after researchers found evidence that Gleevec caused heart failure in 10 patients. Rsearchers then tested Gleevec in lab dishes and in mice, both of which revealed the drug to be toxic to cardiac cells. Mice treated with Gleevec developed left ventricular dysfunction, one of the key symptoms of heart failure in which the heart fails to pump out blood completely. Heart failure is a serious and chronic condition that kills up to half of patients within five years.
Legal Help For Victims Affected By Gleevec
If you or a loved one has suffered heart failure or any other cardiac injury after using Gleevec, you may have valuable legal rights. Contact Parker Waichman LLP, LLP today by completing the contact form on the right, or by calling 1-800-Law-Info (1-800-529-4636). An experienced drug side effects attorney will promptly evaluate your case for free.
