On Oct. 19, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug, Gleevec developed by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Cancer Institute researcher Brian Druker, M.D., to be used as an effective treatment for five more cancers.

Gleevec was first approved by FDA in May 2001 to treat patients with advanced Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia, a blood and bone marrow disease linked to a genetic abnormality. Gleevec, a yellow-colored pill, has been marketed by Novartis since 2001.