Longer Time to Progression With Gleevec®1,2

• Focusing on the primary endpoint of the study, this slide shows there was a significantly higher

rate of progression-free survival (longer time to any disease progression) at 12 months with

Gleevec, 97%, compared with 80% with IFN-α + ara-C (P<0.0001).

• “Time to progression” is defined as the time between randomization and any of the following:

progression to accelerated phase or blast crisis; death; loss of a complete hematologic

response or major cytogenetic response; or in patients not achieving a complete hematologic

response, an increasing white blood cell count despite appropriate therapeutic management.

• Of note, this analysis uses a strict intent-to-treat principle that may overestimate the rate of

progression-free survival for IFN-α + ara-C, as approximately 40% of the patients crossed over

to Gleevec, which has been shown to be effective as second-line therapy for patients failing

IFN-α therapy.

• A significantly higher estimated percentage of patients receiving Gleevec (98%) did not

progress to advanced phase CML at 12 months, versus 93% for the IFN-α + ara-C group

(P<0.0001).

References

1. Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) Prescribing Information. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Corporation; 2003.

2. Data on file. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ.