The Maker of a Miracle Drug

For Dr. Brian Druker, innovation requires putting up with grueling work hours and taking some big risks. "In science, most things are not very likely to work," explains the tall, slim researcher. "But there are some that would be so incredible that you have to take a leap of faith and give them a try."

That certainly describes Druker's own crowning achievement, the revolutionary drug Gleevec, now a $3.6 billion per year blockbuster. Druker didn't actually invent the drug, but it would never have made it to the market — and to patients — without him. An advance like Gleevec "only comes along once in 10 lifetimes," says cancer center consultant Dr. Joseph Simone. "The way Brian stuck with it when people said it was a blind alley and got it into clinical testing was amazing."