BMS leukemia drug gets priority review

[Guest guest]

BOSTON, March 7 (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY.N: Quote,

Profile, Research) said on Tuesday that U.S. regulators will review its

application to market an experimental leukemia drug on an expedited

basis.

The company said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will give the

drug, dasatinib, priority review, which means the FDA has six months

from the submission date of the filing, which was Dec. 28, to make a

decision. Typically the review process takes 10 to 12 months.

The company is seeking approval for the drug to treat chronic

myelogenous leukemia, as well as Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute

lymphoblastic leukemia in adult patients with resistance or intolerance

to prior therapy.