Brian J. Druker

Brian Druker developed imatinib (Gleevec, STI571), the first highly effective molecularly targeted therapy in cancer, achieving complete cytogenetic responses in chronic myeloid leukemia with what was then considered miraculous efficacy and tolerability. His work transforming CML from a uniformly fatal disease to one where most patients achieve normal life expectancy is considered the paradigmatic success of precision oncology and catalyzed the entire field of kinase inhibitor drug development. Druker persisted through years of resistance from the pharmaceutical company to conduct clinical trials, and IRIS trial results showing 96% hematologic response rates fundamentally changed oncology. He directs the Knight Cancer Institute and continues to advance precision cancer medicine.