FDA approves Gleevec for type of childhood leukemia

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Gleevec (imatinib) to treat children who are newly diagnosed with a form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The treatment is for Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive ALL, a type of leukemia caused by a specific genetic change. The drug is used in combination with chemotherapy. It works by killing leukemia cells that contain the damaged chromosome. Read more here.