Magic Cancer Bullet: How a Tiny Orange Pill May Rewrite Medical History [Hardcover]

Daniel Vasella (Author), Robert Slater (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0060010304 | ISBN-13: 978-0060010300 | Publication Date: June 3, 2003 | Edition: 1

Tells the remarkable story behind the revolutionary miracle cure for cancer, Gleevec, and describes its development by pharmaceutical company, Novartis.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gleevec is one of the few cancer drugs hailed as a breakthrough that, so far, has largely lived up to its hype. Vasella, the CEO and chairman of pharmaceutical giant Novartis (which manufactures Gleevec), and Slater (Jack Welch & the GE Way) outline the development, remarkably successful clinical trials and accelerated production and approval process that led to the drug's speedy entry onto the market for the treatment of a rare cancer known as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Although the story's components-devoted scientists, risk-taking executives and activist patients-lend themselves to a gripping insider narrative, the book lacks the details and depth of feeling needed to make that story come alive. Repetition and stilted writing slow the account down further. As a result, the book reads largely as an extended press release for Novartis. Things begin to pick up toward the end, particularly when Vasella defends the high cost of the drug and discusses the challenge of managing patient, media and investor expectations. Gleevec may indeed represent a new direction for cancer research, but the excitement that fact should generate is not captured here.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Compelling...Vasella reveals the innovative strategies that rushed this orange capsule to desperate patients in record time...a heroic saga.” (Fortune )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: HarperBusiness; 1 edition (June 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060010304
• ISBN-13: 978-0060010300
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #657,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Medical Books > Pharmacology > Product Development

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Biased Book, May 15, 2007

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A. Reader - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Magic Cancer Bullet: How a Tiny Orange Pill May Rewrite Medical History (Hardcover)

While this was a very interesting "inside view" of the pharmaceutical industry, the author (or ghost writer?) tries too hard to sound humanitarian, and ends up sounding rather fake (or as if he were going for a medical school interview). A lot of the book ends up being a justification of the marketing and sales of the drug, and ends up sounding heavy-handed. Also, the reader must be aware that this book does not tell the entire story of Gleevec - just search for it on the NY Times, and the patients will tell you the darker side of the tale. In the end, this book is just another marketing scheme for this niche drug, and should be treated as such.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Did someone proofread this before publishing?, January 9, 2011

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The Microbe (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Magic Cancer Bullet: How a Tiny Orange Pill May Rewrite Medical History (Hardcover)

What appeared to be a good story on an amazing cancer drug discovery turns out to be a disappointment in reading experience.
There is no doubt that the author is intelligent; (given that he did find this amazing drug and remains to be a CEO of a huge pharmaceutical company) but someone should have helped him out with his writing.
There were run on sentences, misspelled words and the flow of his writing doesn't get the reader excited. Instead, it conveys a sense of sensationalism and unnecessary drama.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gleevec Book, June 6, 2003

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Paleosapient (Payson, Utah United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic Cancer Bullet: How a Tiny Orange Pill May Rewrite Medical History (Hardcover)

As someone who has CML, the disease that Gleevec was developed for, and as someone for whom Gleevec has been a life-saver, I can attest to the the fact that this book is a valuable and interesting read.

This book makes note of the important part the internet played in the rapid FDA approval of this "proof of concept" drug. It also tells the personal story of how several persons that have used this drug lives' have been affected. Some parts of this book may bring tears to your eyes.

It is becoming apparent that Gleevec will be of help against several other diseases, besides just CML.

As a "proof of concept" drug, Gleevec is truly unique, promising and exciting, and that fact alone makes the telling of its story so worthwhile.

I am totally satisfied with this book, and am glad that I bought it.