Nilotinib is a type of targeted therapy known as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). It works by blocking the activity of a specific abnormal protein called BCR-ABL, which is produced by leukemia cells in people with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML). This abnormal protein causes the leukemia cells to grow and divide uncontrollably.

By inhibiting BCR-ABL, nilotinib helps to slow or stop the growth of these cancer cells and can even lead to their death. Nilotinib is effective in patients who are newly diagnosed as well as those who have not responded to or cannot tolerate other treatments like imatinib. It is also able to overcome certain mutations that make CML resistant to other TKIs. This targeted action means nilotinib specifically attacks cancer cells while having less effect on normal, healthy cells.

nilotinib

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Approved use in