# Imatinib

Source: https://onco.cc/drugs/imatinib/  
OnCo record `imatinib` (Treatment). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The drug that started the targeted therapy era in 2001, turning chronic myeloid leukaemia into a manageable condition with near-normal life expectancy.

## Summary

Imatinib is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of the ABL, KIT and PDGFR kinases, taken as 400 mg once daily in chronic-phase CML and as adjuvant therapy for GIST, with 600-800 mg for advanced disease. Approved in 2001 for chronic myeloid leukaemia and 2002 for KIT-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumours, it started the targeted therapy era: in IRIS, 10-year overall survival was about 83%, turning CML into a manageable condition with near-normal life expectancy. Three years of adjuvant imatinib is standard after high-risk GIST resection, and it is also used in rare kinase-driven tumours. It is now generic. Resistance mutations such as T315I led to later ABL inhibitors, and whether patients in deep remission can stop safely is an active question. For a newcomer: the proof that a cancer could be switched off by blocking one enzyme.

## Fields

- Kind: Treatment
- Status: approved
- Last checked: 2026-09-04
- Also known as: STI571; STI-571; Glivec
- Brand: Gleevec
- Modality: Small-molecule kinase inhibitor (BCR-ABL, KIT, PDGFRA)
- Mechanism: ATP-competitive inhibitor of ABL, KIT, PDGFR.
- Approvals: US 2001: Chronic myeloid leukaemia; US 2002: KIT+ GIST
- Dosing: Oral; 400 mg once daily (chronic-phase CML, GIST adjuvant 3 years); 600-800 mg for advanced disease

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imatinib
- FDA label (DailyMed): https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/search.cfm?query=Imatinib

## Connected records

- technologies: [American ginseng for cancer-related fatigue](https://onco.cc/technologies/american-ginseng-fatigue/), [Oral solid dose manufacturing (tablets and capsules)](https://onco.cc/technologies/oral-solid-dose-manufacturing/), [Small-molecule API synthesis](https://onco.cc/technologies/small-molecule-api-synthesis/), [Small-molecule kinase inhibitors](https://onco.cc/technologies/kinase-inhibitors/), [St John's wort: an interaction to avoid](https://onco.cc/technologies/st-johns-wort-interaction/)
- biomarkers: [BCR::ABL1 transcript (Philadelphia chromosome, quantitative PCR)](https://onco.cc/biomarkers/bcr-abl1-transcript/), [KIT D816V](https://onco.cc/biomarkers/kit-d816v/), [PDGFRA exon 18 mutation (D842V)](https://onco.cc/biomarkers/pdgfra-exon-18-d842v/)
- cancers: [Acral melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/acral-melanoma/), [Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia](https://onco.cc/cancers/all-leukemia/), [Advanced melanoma (unresectable stage III and stage IV)](https://onco.cc/cancers/advanced-melanoma/), [Chordoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/chordoma/), [Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia](https://onco.cc/cancers/cll/), [Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)](https://onco.cc/cancers/cml/), [Chronic myeloid leukaemia, accelerated and blast phase](https://onco.cc/cancers/cml-advanced-phase/), [Chronic myeloid leukaemia, chronic phase](https://onco.cc/cancers/cml-chronic-phase/), [Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans](https://onco.cc/cancers/dermatofibrosarcoma-protuberans/), [Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST)](https://onco.cc/cancers/gist/), [Imatinib-resistant GIST](https://onco.cc/cancers/gist-imatinib-resistant/), [Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT)](https://onco.cc/cancers/inflammatory-myofibroblastic-tumour/), [KIT exon 11-mutant GIST](https://onco.cc/cancers/gist-kit-exon-11/), [Leukaemia (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/leukaemia/), [Mixed-phenotype acute leukaemia](https://onco.cc/cancers/mixed-phenotype-acute-leukaemia/), [Mucosal melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/mucosal-melanoma/), [PDGFRA D842V-mutant GIST](https://onco.cc/cancers/gist-pdgfra-d842v/), [Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph-like or BCR::ABL1-like ALL)](https://onco.cc/cancers/all-ph-like/), [Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children (Ph-positive ALL)](https://onco.cc/cancers/all-paediatric-ph-positive/), [Sarcomas (soft tissue, bone, GIST)](https://onco.cc/cancers/sarcoma/), [Systemic mastocytosis](https://onco.cc/cancers/systemic-mastocytosis/), [Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT)](https://onco.cc/cancers/tenosynovial-giant-cell-tumour/), [Thymic carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/thymic-carcinoma/), [Thymoma and thymic carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/thymic-epithelial/), [Uterine sarcoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/uterine-sarcoma/), [Vaginal melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/vaginal-melanoma/), [Vulvar melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/vulvar-melanoma/)
- targets: [BCR::ABL1 (Philadelphia chromosome)](https://onco.cc/targets/bcr-abl/), [KIT](https://onco.cc/targets/kit/), [PDGFRA](https://onco.cc/targets/pdgfra/), [PDGFRB](https://onco.cc/targets/pdgfrb/)
- companies: [GIMEMA](https://onco.cc/companies/gimema/), [Il-Yang Pharmaceutical](https://onco.cc/companies/il-yang-pharmaceutical/), [Natco Pharma](https://onco.cc/companies/natco/), [Novartis](https://onco.cc/companies/novartis/), [Sun Pharmaceutical Industries](https://onco.cc/companies/sun-pharma/)
- pathways: [BCR::ABL1 (Philadelphia chromosome)](https://onco.cc/pathways/bcr-abl1-signalling/), [Chronic myeloid leukaemia (KEGG map)](https://onco.cc/pathways/cml-signalling/), [Drivers, passengers & the two-hit model](https://onco.cc/pathways/oncogene-activation-two-hit/), [Receptor tyrosine kinase activation](https://onco.cc/pathways/rtk-activation/)
- trials: [A Phase 3 Study for the Efficacy and Safety of Radotinib in CP-CML Patients With Failure or Intolerance to Previous TKIs](https://onco.cc/trials/nct03459534/), [A Phase II Study of Flumatinib Versus Imatinib to Treat Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia](https://onco.cc/trials/nct01503502/), [A Study of Oral Asciminib Versus Other TKIs in Adult Patients With Newly Diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP](https://onco.cc/trials/nct04971226/), [DASISION](https://onco.cc/trials/dasision/), [EsPhALL (EsPhALL2004 and EsPhALL2010)](https://onco.cc/trials/esphall/), [KQB198 in Combination With Imatinib in Participants With Advanced/Metastatic GIST in 1st Line Setting (SynerGIST-1st Line)](https://onco.cc/trials/nct07406633/), [PhALLCON](https://onco.cc/trials/phallcon/), [Randomized Evaluation of Radotinib Versus Imatinib in Phase III Study for Efficacy With Chinese Patients (RERISE China)](https://onco.cc/trials/nct03722420/), [SSGXVIII/AIO (adjuvant imatinib in GIST)](https://onco.cc/trials/ssgxviii/)
- terms: [Aneuploidy and chromosomal instability as the cause of cancer](https://onco.cc/terms/aneuploidy-theory-of-cancer/), [BCR::ABL1 kinase domain mutations (T315I and others)](https://onco.cc/terms/abl1-kinase-domain-mutations/), [China National Reimbursement Drug List negotiation and volume-based procurement](https://onco.cc/terms/china-vbp-nrdl/), [Chromosome](https://onco.cc/terms/chromosome/), [GIST risk stratification (mitotic count, size, site; Miettinen and modified NIH criteria)](https://onco.cc/terms/gist-risk-stratification/), [Hatch-Waxman Act 1984](https://onco.cc/terms/hatch-waxman/), [Kinase](https://onco.cc/terms/kinase/), [Leukaemia (tissue type)](https://onco.cc/terms/leukaemia-type/), [Molecular response (MMR, MR4, treatment-free remission)](https://onco.cc/terms/molecular-response/), [Novartis v. Union of India (Glivec, 2013)](https://onco.cc/terms/novartis-glivec-ruling/), [Ph-like (BCR::ABL1-like) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia](https://onco.cc/terms/ph-like-all/), [Ph-positive ALL](https://onco.cc/terms/ph-positive-all/), [Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+, BCR::ABL1)](https://onco.cc/terms/philadelphia-chromosome/), [Sarcoma (tissue type)](https://onco.cc/terms/sarcoma-type/), [SDH deficiency (SDHB immunohistochemistry loss)](https://onco.cc/terms/sdh-deficiency/), [Small molecule drug](https://onco.cc/terms/small-molecule/), [Sokal and ELTS risk scores (chronic myeloid leukaemia)](https://onco.cc/terms/sokal-elts-scores/), [Somatic mutation theory of cancer](https://onco.cc/terms/somatic-mutation-theory/), [Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)](https://onco.cc/terms/tki-term/), [WHO Essential Medicines List for cancer](https://onco.cc/terms/who-essential-medicines/)
- people: [Brian Druker](https://onco.cc/people/brian-druker/), [Bud Romine](https://onco.cc/people/bud-romine/), [Charles D. Blanke](https://onco.cc/people/charles-blanke/), [George D. Demetri](https://onco.cc/people/george-demetri/), [Hagop M. Kantarjian](https://onco.cc/people/hagop-kantarjian/), [Janet Rowley](https://onco.cc/people/janet-rowley/), [Jean-Yves Blay](https://onco.cc/people/jean-yves-blay/), [Owen N. Witte](https://onco.cc/people/owen-witte/), [Phil Knight](https://onco.cc/people/phil-knight/), [Richard D. Carvajal](https://onco.cc/people/richard-carvajal/), [Stephen P. Hunger](https://onco.cc/people/stephen-hunger/), [Timothy P. Hughes](https://onco.cc/people/timothy-hughes/), [Yoon-Koo Kang](https://onco.cc/people/kang-yoon-koo/)
- bottlenecks: [Incentives reward me-too drugs and marginal gains](https://onco.cc/bottlenecks/b-incentive-misalignment/), [Most of the world has almost no cancer care](https://onco.cc/bottlenecks/b-global-access/), [Prices and value](https://onco.cc/bottlenecks/b-drug-pricing/)
- ideas: [A DRUP-style protocol for off-label generic targeted drugs in rare tumours](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-reg-generic-targeted-therapy-drup/), [Limit secondary patents and pay-for-delay so cancer generics arrive on time](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-reg-secondary-patent-thicket-limits/), [Measure blood levels of oral targeted drugs and adjust doses to a target range](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-tr1-therapeutic-drug-monitoring-for-oral-tkis/), [Medicines Patent Pool licences for every patented cancer drug on the WHO list](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-reg-patent-pool-oncology-eml/), [Model-informed individual dosing with drug-level monitoring for every oral cancer drug](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-moon-individualised-dosing-all-oral-drugs/), [Pool purchasing of essential cancer medicines across countries](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-cost-pooled-procurement-essential/), [Pooled international procurement of essential adult cancer medicines](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-reg-pooled-procurement-adult-essentials/), [Pooled procurement and voluntary licensing for essential cancer medicines in low-income countries](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-moon-pooled-procurement-licensing-pool/), [Publicly funded dose-reduction trials of expensive approved drugs](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-tr1-public-dose-reduction-trials-of-approved-drugs/), [Reduce the dose once the cancer responds: response-adapted de-escalation trials](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-tr1-response-adapted-dose-reduction/), [Tie WHO essential-medicines listing to a published tiered price and supply pledge](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-acc-eml-listing-price-commitments/), [Transparent cost-plus pricing for every oral oncology generic](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-cost-transparent-generic-pricing/), [Voluntary licences and price caps for patented cancer drugs in low-income countries](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-cost-voluntary-licensing-oncology/)
- key papers: [AALL0031: imatinib with intensive chemotherapy for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-aall0031-imatinib-ph-positive-all-schultz-jco-2009/), [Dasatinib versus imatinib with chemotherapy for paediatric Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (CCCG-ALL-2015)](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-dasatinib-vs-imatinib-ph-positive-all-shen-jama-oncol-2020/), [Efficacy and safety of imatinib mesylate in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-demetri-imatinib-gist-nejm-2002/), [EsPhALL: imatinib after induction for children and adolescents with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-esphall-imatinib-biondi-lancet-oncol-2012/), [EsPhALL2010: continuous imatinib with chemotherapy in paediatric Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-esphall2010-continuous-imatinib-biondi-lancet-haematol-2018/), [First imatinib trial: a pill that switched off the enzyme driving chronic myeloid leukaemia](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-druker-imatinib-phase1-nejm-2001/), [GRID: regorafenib for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours after failure of imatinib and sunitinib](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-grid-regorafenib-gist-lancet-2013/), [Imatinib for melanomas harbouring mutationally activated or amplified KIT arising on mucosal, acral and chronically sun-damaged skin](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-hodi-imatinib-kit-melanoma-jco-2013/), [Imatinib in advanced dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: pooled analysis of two phase 2 trials (EORTC 62027 and SWOG S0345)](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-imatinib-dfsp-eortc-swog-rutkowski-jco-2010/), [INTRIGUE: ripretinib versus sunitinib in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour after imatinib](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-intrigue-ripretinib-vs-sunitinib-jco-2022/), [IRIS: imatinib versus interferon plus cytarabine as first treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-iris-imatinib-nejm-2003/), [Kinase mutations and imatinib response in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-heinrich-kit-mutation-imatinib-response-jco-2003/), [SSG XVIII/AIO: one versus three years of adjuvant imatinib for operable gastrointestinal stromal tumour](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-ssg-xviii-adjuvant-imatinib-joensuu-jama-2012/), [Sunitinib in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour after failure of imatinib](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-demetri-sunitinib-gist-lancet-2006/)
- institutions: [Central Drugs Standard Control Organization](https://onco.cc/institutions/cdsco/), [OHSU Knight Cancer Institute](https://onco.cc/institutions/ohsu-knight/), [Seoul St. Mary's Hospital](https://onco.cc/institutions/seoul-st-marys-hospital/)
- roadmaps: [Drug discovery roadmap: screening in mice → maps of dependency → designing in silico](https://onco.cc/roadmaps/drug-discovery-roadmap/), [Targeted therapy roadmap: imatinib → designed for resistance → the undruggable drivers fall](https://onco.cc/roadmaps/targeted-therapy-roadmap/)

---
JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/imatinib.json