RITUXAN (also known as Rituximab)

Mechanism:

Rituxan is an antibody directed against CD20 on B lymphocytes and targets problematic cells for destruction.

Indications:

• Active, moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis in conjunction with Methotrexate
• Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
• Microscopic Polyangiitis

Contraindications:

Patients with active infection should not be started on Rituxan.

Administration:

Rituxan is typically administered as an infusion.  For patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rituxan is often initiated and repeated after 2 weeks and then maintained every 24 weeks thereafter.