Leukemia Society Offers Patient Information on Use of STI-571

n WHITE PLAINS, NY—The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has joined in a collaborative partnership with Novartis to educate the public about imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, also known as STI-571), Novartis’ new oral medication approved by the FDA for patients with Philadelphia-chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who have failed interferon therapy.

The Society’s Information Resource Center (IRC) can be reached directly by calling 1-800-955-4572 from 9 am to 6 pm Eastern Standard Time, or via email at infocenter@leukemia-lymphoma.org.

IRC staff can provide callers with information on CML, imatinib, and the vast array of free patient services programs available nationwide through the Society’s 58 chapters, designed to help patients cope with living with leukemia.

For Medicare and other patients eligible for treatment with imatinib who are concerned about the cost of the drug, the IRC staff has information about the Novartis Patient Assistance Program (PAP), which will help patients assess their own funding resources to determine their eligibility for reimbursement for the cost of the drug.

In selected cases in which sufficient funding is not available, the Novartis PAP will help patients to obtain the drug who might not otherwise be able to do so. For information on Novartis PAP, call 1-877-GLEEVEC (1-877-453-3832).