Re: R. and serum levels Lynn and R.

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

The only information I have is what Novartis announced at their booth

at ASH. The Program is called CML Alliance and from what I

understand Novartis is endevouring to build a strategic alliance with

a CLIA-Certified Laboratory with significant expertise in blood level

testing. This is a voluntary program and will be offered to patients

experiencing a sub optimal response to Gleevec.

In the informaiton we have received we do not know what " sub optimal "

response means or how it is defined. I am not sure what body of

evidence will be used to make that assessment. I say this only

because there was some discussion at ASH on what defines an " optimal "

response to Gleevec. I asked the question yesterday to Dr. Pierre

Laneuville and Dr. Jeff Lipton from the perspective of a patient who

is having a good response yet suffering difficult side effects, and

while those patients may be offered testing, the first priority is

patients with a sub optimal response. Since this could be a costly

program there will have to be some criteia established on who and

when patients can be offered testing.

However, I am in touch with Novartis and I will be happy tokeep

everyone updated with more information as it becomes available.

Hope some of this helps,

Cheers,

Cheryl-Anne

>

> Hi again, Lynn,

>

> I heard back from Dr. Druker, who wrote the following:

>

> " Merrill Egorin at Univ of Pittsburgh has been performing imatinib

levels

> for quite a while and we have used his lab to analyze patients who

seem to

> over or under-react to the drug. We have found this quite useful for

> individualizing therapy. Novartis will soon roll out a program to

allow any

> physician to obtain this testing. "

>

> I'll write again and try to find out how soon this will be, and/or

whether

> other patients' docs could send blood samples for testing at

Egorin's lab.

>

> Best,

>

> R

>

>

> > No, I don't know who's able to do levels, but I should find this

out.

> > Cheryl, do you know? I'll email Dr. Druker and see what he knows.

> >

> > All the best,

> >

> > R

> >