Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer at The Max Foundation, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“This coming Sunday marks 25 years since the moment that forever changed the lives of people diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) worldwide. On Monday, May 11, I invite you to join us for an upcoming webinar hosted by The Max Foundation reflecting on 25 years of targeted therapy for CML, and what must come next.
In the early 1990s, I had a premonition that someday a medicine would exist that could have saved my stepson, Max. I didn’t know when, or how, but I knew it would come.
That day arrived on May 10, 2001, with the approval of the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It is serendipitous that the 25th anniversary lands on Mother’s Day this year. I recently met Soni, a young man, 28 years old today, whose mother was diagnosed with CML in 2001 when he was just 3 years old. One could say she was diagnosed at the right time. She was one of the first people in India to access imatinib. Now, grown up and studying hospital management at the University of Washington, his life and accomplishments are a reminder of the broader impact and the lives touched by the approval of Gleevec/Glivec (imatinib). While Soni’s mom is no longer with us, he expressed deep gratitude for the 16 years she was there for him.
These past 25 years have brought extraordinary progress. CML was transformed from a fatal disease into a manageable one.
Along the way, we’ve also seen growth in:
- Patient advocacy
- Recognition of the importance of diagnostics and monitoring
- Understanding that access to medicine alone is not enough—patients need education, follow‑up, and long‑term care.
At the same time, this anniversary is a reminder that progress requires vigilance. As oral treatments became more successful and more common, gaps emerged, especially in molecular monitoring, treatment adherence, and survivorship care…in both high‑ and low‑income settings. The work is not finished.
That is why, in 2026, I believe it is time to renew our shared commitment as a CML community to protect the gains we have made and to ensure that every patient, everywhere, receives optimal care for the long term.
Looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday!”
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