Non-progressing Low-grade
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma after CVP*

Risk Reduction (risk of progression, relapse or death) Demonstrated Using Up to 16 Doses of RITUXAN Following CVP for up to 2 Years[1,2]

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.

In the ECOG 1496 trial, the safety and efficacy of RITUXAN was evaluated in 322 patients with previously untreated low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who did not progress after 6 or 8 cycles of CVP chemotherapy[1,2].

  • The primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival (PFS), defined as the time from randomization to progression, relapse or death[2]
  • RITUXAN following CVP reduced the risk of progression, relapse, or death (hazard ratio range up to but not exceeding 0.49)[2]
  • Clinical benefit was consistent across diverse patient subgroups[1]

Learn more about RITUXAN's efficacy in non-progressing low-grade NHL after CVP.

Grade 3–4 adverse reactions observed in E1496

Neutropenia was the only Grade 3 or 4 adverse reaction that occurred more frequently (>2%) in the RITUXAN arm compared with those who received no further therapy (4% vs 1%).[2]

*CVP is a chemotherapy regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone.

Previously Untreated Follicular NHL in Combination with CVP

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Rituxan® (rituximab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with:

BOXED WARNINGS and Additional Important Safety Information

WARNING: FATAL INFUSION REACTIONS, TUMOR LYSIS SYNDROME (TLS), SEVERE MUCOCUTANEOUS REACTIONS, and PROGRESSIVE MULTIFOCAL LEUKOENCEPHALOPATHY (PML)

Infusion Reactions
Rituxan administration can result in serious, including fatal infusion reactions. Deaths within 24 hours of Rituxan infusion have occurred. Approximately 80% of fatal infusion reactions occurred in association with the first infusion. Carefully monitor patients during infusions. Discontinue Rituxan infusion and provide medical treatment for Grade 3 or 4 infusion reactions.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
Acute renal failure requiring dialysis with instances of fatal outcome can occur in the setting of TLS following treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients with Rituxan.

Severe Mucocutaneous Reactions
Severe, including fatal, mucocutaneous reactions can occur in patients receiving Rituxan.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)
JC virus infection resulting in PML and death can occur in patients receiving Rituxan.

Rituxan has also been associated with fatal hepatitis B reactivation with fulminant hepatitis, other serious viral infections, cardiovascular events, renal toxicity, and bowel obstruction and perforation.

The most common adverse reactions of Rituxan (incidence ≥25%) observed in patients with NHL are infusion reactions, fever, chills, infection, asthenia, and lymphopenia. The incidence of infusion reactions was highest during the first infusion (77%) and decreased with each subsequent infusion. These infusion reactions generally have resolved with slowing or interruption of the infusion and with supportive care.

Indication-Specific Safety

Single Agent Rituxan for Relapsed or Refractory, Low-Grade or Follicular NHL
The most common adverse reactions of Rituxan (incidence ≥ 25%) observed in patients with relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular NHL are infusion reactions, fever, chills, infection, asthenia, and lymphopenia. Respiratory system events were reported in 38% of patients, and 31% reported infectious events. Grade 3 and 4 cytopenias were reported in 48% of patients and included lymphopenia (40%), neutropenia (6%), leukopenia (4%), anemia (3%), and thrombocytopenia (2%).

Rituxan in Combination with CVP for Previously Untreated, Follicular NHL
Patients in the R-CVP arm had higher incidences of infusional toxicity and of neutropenia as compared to those in the CVP arm. The following adverse reactions occurred more frequently (≥5%) in patients receiving R-CVP compared to CVP alone: rash (17% vs 5%), cough (15% vs 6%), flushing (14% vs 3%), rigors (10% vs 2%), pruritus (10% vs 1%), neutropenia (8% vs 3%), and chest tightness (7% vs 1%).

Single Agent Rituxan for Low-Grade NHL, after First-Line CVP Chemotherapy
The following common adverse reactions were reported more frequently (≥5%) in patients receiving Rituxan following CVP compared with those who received no further therapy: fatigue (39% vs 14%), anemia (35% vs 20%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (30% vs 18%), infections (19% vs 9%), pulmonary toxicity (18% vs 10%), hepatobiliary toxicity (17% vs 7%), rash and/or pruritus (17% vs 5%), arthralgia (12% vs 3%), and weight gain (11% vs 4%). Neutropenia was the only Grade 3 or 4 adverse reaction that occurred more frequently (≥2%) in the Rituxan arm compared with those who received no further therapy (4% vs 1%).

Rituxan in Combination with CHOP Chemotherapy for DLBCL
The following adverse reactions, regardless of severity, were reported more frequently (≥5%) in patients age ≥60 years receiving R-CHOP as compared to CHOP alone: pyrexia (56% vs 46%), lung disorder (31% vs 24%), cardiac disorder (29% vs 21%), and chills (13% vs 4%). In the GELA LNH 98-5 study, a review of cardiac toxicity determined that supraventricular arrhythmias or tachycardia accounted for most of the difference in cardiac disorders (4.5% for R-CHOP vs. 1.0% for CHOP).

The following Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions occurred more frequently among patients in the R-CHOP arm compared with those in the CHOP arm: thrombocytopenia (9% vs 7%) and lung disorder (6% vs 3%). Other Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions reported more frequently among patients receiving R-CHOP were viral infection (GELA LNH 98-5 study), neutropenia (GELA LNH 98-5 and MInT studies), and anemia (MInT study).

For additional safety information, please see the full prescribing information, including BOXED WARNINGS and Medication Guide.

References

1. Data on file, Genentech, Inc.

2. Rituxan® (Rituximab) full prescribing information, Genentech, Inc., 2008.