Novartis India has decided to continue the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP), in the country. The Programme, which was discontinued in May this year due to the entry of generic manufacturers of this drug, has been ‘modified’ to begin accepting new patients immediately.

The company’s decision to restart the programme is in the wake of the exclusive marketing right (EMR) to this drug, imatinib myslate, in India. According to Ranjit Shahani, vice chairman & managing director, Novartis India, now the GIPAP will be extended not only to Glivec patients but patients who have been enrolled in generic imatinib patient assistance programmes. The GIPAP India programme continues to provide Glivec at no cost to 580 existing patients in India.

Glivec is Novartis’ imatinib myslate beta-crystal form dosage for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST).

The GIPAP provides Glivec at no cost to eligible adult and paediatric patients diagnosed with CML and GIST, who meet the following criteria to the properly diagnosed patient who is not insured and not reimbursed for the treatment cost and also has no other financial recourse.