BMS Sprycel Leukemia Drug Approved

Bristol-Myers Squibb was granted accelerated approval by the FDA for Sprycel, an oral inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases for the treatment of adults in all phases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy, including Gleevec. The FDA also granted full approval of Sprycel for the treatment of adults with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy. The company anticipates that the drug will be available within days nationwide.