| Generic name | Rituximab |
| Pronunciation | rih-TUK-si-mab |
| Brand name(s), other common name(s) | Rituxan® |
| Biosimilar* name(s) | Rituximab-abbs (Truxima®); Rituximab-pvvr (RuxienceTM ) |
| Drug type | Monoclonal antibody |
| How the drug is given | Intravenously (IV) |
Indications and Usage
is FDA approved for the treatment of adult patients with:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
- Relapsed or refractory, low grade or follicular, CD20-positive Bcell NHL as a single agent.
- Previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to RITUXAN 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.
- Previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) (CHOP) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Previously untreated and previously treated CD20-positive CLL in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC).
Side effects needing medical attention
Fever; chills; difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; sensation of tongue or throat swelling; hives; itching; weakness; headache; nausea; vomiting; flushing; palpitations; chest pain; rash; dizziness; coughing; unusual tiredness or fatigue; unusual bruising or bleeding; muscle or joint pain; abdominal pain; diarrhea.
In patients with prior hepatitis B (HBV) infection, HBV reactivation may occur when the body's immune system is impaired.
Side effects needing medical attention after stopping this medication
Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; painful or difficult urination; pinhead-sized red spots on skin; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness.
*A biosimilar is a biological product that is highly similar to and has no clinically meaningful differences from an existing FDA-approved reference product. Click here for more information.
For information on how to manage the costs of drug therapy, please see Financial Support, or to speak with an Information Specialist, call (800) 955-4572.