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About Rituxan

While many people respond well to anti-TNF therapies a significant number of people with RA may not. Fortunately, advances in RA research have led to a treatment that works unlike any other—a treatment that may work when anti-TNFs have not. It's called Rituxan^® (Rituximab).

With Rituxan, I feel confident that I can make plans and keep them.

Tim—
clinical trial participant
living with RA since 1989
taking Rituxan since 2004

Hear more of Tim's story

• Rituxan was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of RA in 2006.
• RITUXAN^® (Rituximab) in combination with methotrexate is indicated to reduce signs and symptoms in adult patients with moderately- to severely- active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more TNF antagonist therapies.
• Rituxan is the only treatment that can reduce the pain and symptoms of RA through 6 months after 1 course of treatment (2 infusions)
• Rituxan has been given to patients more than 1 million times, over the course of 9 years, across all indications

Six months of RA improvement could mean making those weeklong vacation plans without having to cancel, or just making it through your daily routine. Six months could mean living your life without the obstacles of RA.

Next How Rituxan Works

INDICATION
Rituxan^® (Rituximab) in combination with methotrexate is indicated to reduce signs and symptoms and slows the progression of structural damage in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more TNF antagonist therapies.

This information does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about your treatment with RITUXAN.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Rituxan^® can cause serious side effects including:

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)

• PML is a rare brain infection. PML usually causes death or severe disability.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice any new or worsening medical problems, such as a new or sudden change in thinking, walking, strength, vision, or other problems that have lasted over several days.
• PML usually happens in patients with weakened immune systems.
• PML can occur during treatment with Rituxan or after treatment has finished.
• There is no known treatment, prevention, or cure for PML.

Infusion reactions. Tell your doctor or get medical treatment right away if you get hives, swelling, dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness, headache, cough, wheezing, or have trouble breathing while receiving or after receiving Rituxan.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS). TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of certain types of cancer cells. TLS can cause kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment. Patients receiving Rituxan for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) may get TLS. Your doctor will check you for TLS.

Severe skin reactions. Tell your doctor or get medical treatment right away if you get any of these symptoms: painful sores on your skin or in your mouth, ulcers, blisters, or peeling skin while receiving or after receiving Rituxan.

Rituxan can cause other serious and life threatening side effects including:

Hepatitis B virus reactivation. Tell your doctor if you had Hepatitis B virus or are a carrier of Hepatitis B virus. Receiving Rituxan could cause the Hepatitis B virus to become an active infection again. This may cause serious liver problems and death. People with active liver disease due to Hepatitis B should stop receiving Rituxan.

Heart Problems. Tell your doctor about any heart problems you have including chest pain (angina) and irregular heart beats. Rituxan can cause chest pain and irregular heart beats which may require treatment.

Infections. Rituxan can increase your chances for getting infections. Call your doctor right away if you have a cough that will not go away, fever, chills, congestion, or any flu-like symptoms while receiving Rituxan. These symptoms may be signs of a serious infection.

Stomach and bowel problems. Serious stomach and bowel problems have been seen when Rituxan has been used with anti-cancer medicines in some patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Call your doctor right away if you have any stomach area pain during treatment with Rituxan.

Common side effects during Rituxan infusions include:

Other side effects with Rituxan include:

• aching joints
• upper respiratory tract infection
• decreased blood cell counts
• lung problems

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. Ask your doctor for more information.