Important Safety Information
CVP followed by RITUXAN Ongoing Therapy (for up to 2 years): Lowering the Risk of Progression, Relapse, or Death for Low-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
RITUXAN® is indicated for the treatment of patients with non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL, as a single agent, after first-line CVP chemotherapy.
After treatment with CVP chemotherapy, there may be more you can do to control your low-grade (indolent) NHL. With RITUXAN® Ongoing Therapy, you have a better chance of staying in control. What we mean by control is a lower risk of progression, relapse, or death, as shown in a clinical trial. So what is RITUXAN Ongoing Therapy? It’s when you receive RITUXAN on this schedule after CVP chemotherapy:
- ON for 1 month (1 RITUXAN treatment a week), then
- OFF for 5 months
- Repeat this schedule for up to 2 years
Important Safety Information:
- RITUXAN can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including: infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS; kidney failure due to fast breakdown of cancer cells), severe skin and mouth reactions, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML; a rare, serious brain infection).
- RITUXAN has also been associated with serious and life-threatening side effects, including: the return of active hepatitis B virus infection with sudden and serious liver problems including liver failure, and death, other serious infections that can lead to death, heart problems, kidney problems, and stomach and serious bowel problems including blockage and tears in the bowel that can sometimes lead to death.
- The most common side effects of RITUXAN seen in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were infusion reactions, fever, chills, low white blood cells, infections, body aches, and tiredness. Before starting treatment with RITUXAN it is important to talk to your doctor about your medical history.
- Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with RITUXAN. For more information, ask your doctor
What did the clinical trial prove?
The FDA approved RITUXAN Ongoing Therapy due to the significant benefits it showed in a large clinical trial, including that:
- Getting RITUXAN as an ongoing therapy (after CVP chemotherapy) for up to 2 years significantly lowered the risk that low-grade NHL progressed, relapsed, or resulted in death. In fact, it lowered the risk by more than 50%—compared with patients who did not receive RITUXAN Ongoing Therapy
“I’ve seen some other bad things in my life. I surrounded myself with my family, my new grandchild, and I felt that I might as well live life while it's here to live and appreciate every moment of it.” —David, RITUXAN patient
This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Discuss with your doctor any questions you have about your medical condition or your treatment.
Indications and Important Safety Information
RITUXAN® (Rituximab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with:
- Relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent
- Previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with CVP chemotherapy
- Non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL, as a single agent, after first-line CVP chemotherapy
- Previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with CHOP or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens
People with serious infections should not receive RITUXAN.
Important Safety Information:
- RITUXAN can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including: infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS; kidney failure due to fast breakdown of cancer cells), severe skin and mouth reactions, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML; a rare, serious brain infection).
- RITUXAN has also been associated with serious and life-threatening side effects, including: the return of active hepatitis B virus infection with sudden and serious liver problems including liver failure, and death, other serious infections that can lead to death, heart problems, kidney problems, and stomach and serious bowel problems including blockage and tears in the bowel that can sometimes lead to death.
- The most common side effects of RITUXAN seen in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were infusion reactions, fever, chills, low white blood cells, infections, body aches, and tiredness. Before starting treatment with RITUXAN it is important to talk to your doctor about your medical history.
- Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with RITUXAN. For more information, ask your doctor
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
