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BioDrugs
Published in: BioDrugs 2/2012

01-04-2012 | Review Article

Rituximab

Current Status as Therapy for Malignant and Benign Hematologic Disorders

Authors: Nihal E. Abdulla, Mary J. Ninan, Dr Avi B. Markowitz, MD, FACP

Published in: BioDrugs | Issue 2/2012

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Abstract

Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody targeting the pan-B-cell antigen CD20 and was the first monoclonal antibody approved for clinical use in the treatment of cancer. Since its first approval by the FDA in 1997, investigators have continued to explore a variety of clinical conditions in which rituximab has proven effective with minimal toxicity. Rituximab, as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, has been studied extensively in untreated and relapsed/refractory settings as both induction and maintenance therapy for the treatment of CD20-positive lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, in addition to non-malignant hematologic disorders including autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombo-cytopenic purpura. Here we discuss the clinical development of rituximab with a review of the efficacy data from clinical trials and its current status in the practice of hematology and oncology.
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Metadata
Title
Rituximab
Current Status as Therapy for Malignant and Benign Hematologic Disorders
Authors
Nihal E. Abdulla
Mary J. Ninan
Dr Avi B. Markowitz, MD, FACP
Publication date
01-04-2012
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
BioDrugs / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 1173-8804
Electronic ISSN: 1179-190X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/11599500-000000000-00000

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