What is the success rate of Rituxan (rituximab) in patients with blood cancers?
Rituxan (rituximab) is a monoclonal antibody that works by targeting the CD20 protein antigen displayed on the surface of B-cells. It is used in the treatment of a variety of conditions including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GAP) and moderate to severe pemphigus.
In patients with hematological or blood cancers, including NHL and CLL, Rituxan’s success is measured in a number of ways:
- How long patients responded to treatment (median duration of response)
- How long patients live without their disease progressing (progression-free survival)
- How many patients respond to treatment (response rate)
How effective is Rituxan in people with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Rituxan improves response rates and survival outcomes in NHL patients, particularly when combined with chemotherapy.
NHL patient group | Measure of success |
Relapsed or refractory, low grade or follicular, CD20-positive B-cell NHL as a single agent
(Results from three single-arm studies in 296 patients) |
Median duration of response
|
Previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to a rituximab product in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy + Non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20 positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent after first-line cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) chemotherapy (Results from three randomized controlled trials in 1662 patients) |
Median progression-free survival
|
Previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) (CHOP) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens (Results from three randomized, active-controlled, open-label, multicenter trials in 1854 patients) |
Progression-free survival
|
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How effective is Rituxan in people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
Rituxan helps to improve overall survival in certain patients with CLL and also helps to increase the time patients live for without experiencing disease progression. Adding Rituxan alongside standard therapy enhances the response patients have to therapy.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient group | Measure of success |
Previously untreated CD20-positive CLL in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC)
(Results from one randomized multicenter open-label study in 817 patients) |
Median progression-free survival
|
Previously treated CD20-positive CLL in combination FC
(Results from one randomized multicenter open-label study in 552 patients) |
Median progression-free survival
|
Conclusion
Rituxan significantly improves response rates and survival outcomes in NHL and CLL, particularly when combined with chemotherapy. Patients should discuss treatment options with their healthcare provider to determine the best approach based on their specific condition.
References
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Rituxan. [Accessed October 6, 2021]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/103705s5464lbl.pdf.
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How long does it take for Rituxan to work?
Patients treated with Rituxan may notice an early response within 7-8 weeks of treatment. Most rheumatoid arthritis patients will notice some improvement in their symptoms, such as improvement in their levels of pain and inflammation, within 16 weeks of starting treatment with Rituxan. Continue reading
What are biosimilar drugs and how do they compare to biologics?
A biosimilar is a biological product that is similar to a reference biologic (usually the originally approved product) and for which there are no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety, purity, and potency. One example is Amjevita (adalimumab-atto), the first biosimilar approved for Humira (adalimumab) in 2016. Continue reading
Does Rituxan cause hair loss?
It’s possible for Rituxan (rituximab) to cause hair loss. This includes losing hair anywhere on your body, such as your head, legs, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Hair loss (alopecia) does not seem to be a common side effect of Rituxan. Continue reading
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