The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7482 p673
15 December 2007

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Imatinib tweaked to target GISTs

Researchers have re-engineered imatinib to target gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) more specifically and to mitigate cardiotoxic side effects (The Journal of Clinical Investigation 2007;117:4044).

In mice, the new molecule, known as WBZ-4, inhibits the tyrosine kinases associated with GISTs but not those associated with chronic myeloid leukaemia or toxic effects on the heart.