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Gleevec vs Tasigna

Imatinib  ·  Nilotinib

Both are tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Here is how Gleevec and Tasigna compare on class, mechanism, dosing, approval and supply.

At a glance

GleevecImatinib
TasignaNilotinib
Brand names
Gleevec / Glivec
Tasigna
Drug class
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Route
Oral
Oral
Marketed by
Novartis
Novartis
First FDA approval
10 May 2001
29 Oct 2007
US shortage
Not listed
Not listed

Key differences

What each one treats

GleevecImatinib

Gleevec is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of: Newly diagnosed adult and pediatric patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. ( 1.1 ) Patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in blast crisis (BC), accelerated phase (AP), or in chronic phase (CP) after failure of interferon-alpha therapy. ( 1.2 ) Adult patients with relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). ( 1.3 ) Pediatric patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) in combination with chemotherapy. ( 1.4 ) Adult patients with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPD) associated with platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) gene re-arrangements. ( 1.5 ) Adult patients with aggressive systemic mas…

TasignaNilotinib

Tasigna is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of: Adult and pediatric patients greater than or equal to 1 year of age with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. ( 1.1 ) Adult patients with chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) Ph+ CML resistant to or intolerant to prior therapy that included imatinib. ( 1.2 ) Pediatric patients greater than or equal to 1 year of age with Ph+ CML-CP and CML-AP resistant or intolerant to prior tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Adult and Pediatric Patients With Newly Diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP Tasigna is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients greater than or equal to 1 year of age with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. 1.2 Adult Patients With Resistant or Intolerant Ph+ CML…

How each one works

GleevecTyrosine kinase inhibitor

12.1 Mechanism of Action Imatinib mesylate is a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, the constitutive abnormal tyrosine kinase created by the Philadelphia chromosome abnormality in CML. Imatinib inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in BCR-ABL positive cell lines as well as fresh leukemic cells from Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Imatinib inhibits colony formation in assays using ex vivo peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from CML patients. In vivo, imatinib inhibits tumor growth of BCR-ABL transfected murine myeloid cells as well as BCR-ABL positive leukemia lines derived from CML patients in blast crisis. Ima…

TasignaTyrosine kinase inhibitor

12.1 Mechanism of Action Nilotinib is an inhibitor of the BCR-ABL kinase. Nilotinib binds to and stabilizes the inactive conformation of the kinase domain of ABL protein. In vitro, nilotinib inhibited BCR-ABL mediated proliferation of murine leukemic cell lines and human cell lines derived from patients with Ph+ CML. Under the conditions of the assays, nilotinib was able to overcome imatinib resistance resulting from BCR-ABL kinase mutations, in 32 out of 33 mutations tested. Nilotinib inhibited the autophosphorylation of the following kinases at IC50 values as indicated: BCR-ABL (20 to 60 nM), PDGFR (69 nM), c-KIT (210 nM), CSF-1R (125 to 250 nM), and DDR1 (3.7 nM).

Related comparisons

Gleevec VS Sprycel Gleevec VS Cabometyx Tasigna VS Sprycel Tasigna VS Cabometyx

Read more

Gleevec profile Tasigna profile Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors All comparisons
This is not medical advice, and not a recommendation of one drug over the other.

Which medicine is right for a given person depends on their diagnosis, other conditions, other medicines, kidney and liver function, pregnancy, and cost or reimbursement — none of which this page knows. Two drugs in the same class are not automatically interchangeable. Never start, stop or switch a prescription medicine on the basis of a web page; that decision belongs to you and your clinician or pharmacist.

Class and summary text is written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Label, mechanism, route, manufacturer and approval data come from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API; shortage status from the FDA Drug Shortage Database. Approvals, indications and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions — a drug approved in one may not be approved, or may carry a different name, in another.