25 Years of Glivec
As we commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the advent of the Magic Bullet that burst upon the firmament of cancer therapy I am beyond feeling proud and happy to bring to you in our Patient Advocate of the Month series, beginning May, the stories of those CML and GIST patients who till today, are living testament of the magic Glivec continues to work upon on them. For all those 25 years and more we hope.
– Viji Venkatesh
To live with cancer and to remain on life long medication for a life threatening, life limiting condition; few of us working in the world of cancer care would have even thought we would be confronted with a situation like this.
Yet, a quarter of a century ago this is exactly what presented itself to us.
It was in the May of 2001 that the compound then simply known as STI-571 was first granted FDA approval in record time for the treatment of advanced Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib, marketed as Glivec; the drug that revolutionized oncology as one of the first highly specific targeted therapies, successfully converting a fatal blood cancer into a manageable condition. It was more than a year later that this groundbreaking approval based on highly successful Phase II trials, eventually led to full, first-line approval in December 2002 after the what was known as the IRIS (Phase III) trials.
By that time both GIPAP (the access program put in place by Novartis and managed by The Max Foundation) and Friends of Max the Support Group for patients in the program were well in place with hundreds of patients and their families’ lives receiving what they called, and rightly so, ‘The Gift of Life’.
Meet Shylaja B S
In September 1994, Shylaja from Bangalore, a young mother with a one-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). As per the treatment protocols of that time, she was started on Hydrea and Interferon therapy. In those days, blood cancer—often portrayed in the most frightening manner in films and popular culture—was considered life-altering not only for the patient, but for the entire family. The expected survival with the available therapies was limited, and hope was often uncertain.
With the guidance and support of her treating physician, Dr. Shekhar Patil of HCG Bangalore, and through the tireless efforts of her husband Shankar, Shylaja was enrolled in the STI-571 Phase II clinical trial in Singapore. Enrolling in a clinical trial at that time required extraordinary courage. In Shankar’s words, “Very little was known about the effectiveness or long-term side effects of this new drug, later known to the world as Glivec (Imatinib). Yet, Shylaja chose hope over fear and stepped into the unknown with remarkable determination.”
When Glivec was eventually approved and the GIPAP (Glivec International Patient Assistance Program) was launched, Shylaja became one of the earliest beneficiaries of the access program in India. She has continued on Glivec therapy since 2000.
Says Shankar, “ In the early years of Glivec treatment—from 2001 to 2010—there was very little information available regarding the long-term effects, management issues, or outcomes associated with the drug. During this period, the Friends of Max (FOM) team encouraged and coordinated a small but deeply connected group of patients and caregivers in Bangalore who met regularly every month to share experiences, concerns, and encouragement. These meetings became a vital source of emotional strength and practical guidance, especially for newly diagnosed patients struggling to cope with the trauma of a cancer diagnosis. The group helped build confidence, resilience, and hope at a time when information and support systems were scarce.”
As deeply committed members of Friends of Max, both Shylaja and Shankar have been a source of inspiration to countless patients and families who are now part of the extended FOM family.
Shankar’s relentless pursuit of the best possible treatment for his wife naturally evolved into a larger mission. In his own words, “encouraging fellow patients and caregivers to explore every avenue toward better health and well-being, and to never lose hope in the face of cancer.”
Shylaja, in her own quiet and gentle manner, has always embodied grace, resilience, and unwavering strength in the face of adversity. Simply being in her presence has given many of us immense confidence about our own future and the possibilities that lie ahead despite a diagnosis of CML.
In many ways, Shylaja represents the very spirit of the CML community—a symbol of courage, hope, discipline, and perseverance. To all of us, she remains a shining example of treatment compliance, dignity, and the strength required to embrace the unknown with faith and determination.