The correct name of the brand is Glivec. It contains a medicine called imatinib mesylate. It is useful in certain specific stages of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) such as in blast crisis, accelerated or chronic phase after failure of interferon alfa therapy. It is presumed that interferon alfa therapy was given before starting on imatinib. The failure is scientifically defined on 6 parameters. The total duration of treatment can last up to 18 months. Glivec is quite expensive. If possible the drug should be procured directly from abroad. Too many substandard and fake drugs are being sold in India, particularly when they are expensive. We are unable to confirm the quality of any brand developed in India.
The clinical outcome of CML patients is variable and differs from patient to patient. Generally the patients go into remission after treatment rather than getting cured.