Rituxan

Rituxan (rituximab) is used in the treatment of several lymphomas, leukemias, and autoimmune disorders. It was approved in 1997 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) for B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma resistant to other chemotherapy regimens. It is marketed in the U.S. by Genentech and Biogen Idec.

Rituximab destroys certain malignant, but also normal, B cells. It is therefore used to teat diseases that are characterized by having too many, overactive, or dysfunctional B cells. In combination with cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin, and prednisone/prednisolone (CHOP) chemotherapy, rituximab is now standard therapy in the initial treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma and many other B cell lymphomas.

The FDA has also approved the use of rituximab in combination with methotrexate to reduce signs and symptoms in adults with moderately- to severely-active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to anti-TNF-alpha therapy. And there is also some evidence that rituximab can be effective in a range of other autoimmune diseases.

In December 2006, however, Genentech issued a warning to healthcare providers with regard to the deaths of two lupus patients from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain disease, which had been linked to Rituxan. The FDA issued an alert , warning of the potential for developing PML, among other adverse reactions, in patients undergoing treatment with rituximab. But then a third case of PML was reported in a 73-year old woman with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis who had received a course of Rituxan in February 2009.

Another major concern has been a number of reports of abdominal pain and bowel obstruction and perforation, in some cases leading to death, ocurring in patients receiving Rituxan in combination with chemotherapy, usually early in the course of therapy. Due to multiple risk factors for cases in which bowel obstruction was reported, however, a clear cut causal relationship between rituximab and gastrointestinal conditions has not been established.

Other adverse reactions associated with treatment with Rituxan include:

• Infusion reactions
• Tumor lysis syndrome
• Mucocutaneous reactions
• Hepatitis B reactivation with fulminant hepatitis
• Infections (including fatal, bacterial, fungal, and new or reactivated viral infections)
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Renal toxicity

If you or a loved one has suffered or is suffering adverse reactions associated with the use of Rituxan or a generic version of rituximab, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a qualified pharmaceutical injury attorney for an evaluation of your case.