Imatinib is a novel 2-anilinopyrimidine tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of Ber-abl positive cell line cells and chronic myelogenous leukemia patient cells.It can be used for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome (Ber-Abl)-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).Imatinib is also effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors, with an efficiency rate of around 50%.

It is currently approved for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML) and gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors in Europe, the United States, and several other countries.

In addition, applications for imatinib for the treatment of eosinophilia and systemic mastocytosis are in the FDA and EMEA approval process.