Advice
Following a full submission.
Rituximab (MabThera) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland as maintenance therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma responding to induction therapy with chemotherapy with or without rituximab.
In a phase lll, randomised, open-label study, rituximab maintenance treatment significantly increased the median progression-free survival from 15 months in the observation arm to 52 months in the rituximab arm with an increase in overall survival at three years. This prolonged survival requires to be confirmed in longer term follow up.
Rituximab is restricted for use only by oncologists or haematologists who have expertise in treating lymphoma.
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Medicine details
- Medicine name:
- rituximab 10mg/ml concentrate for infusion (MabThera)
- SMC ID:
- 330/06
- Indication:
- Relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma
- Pharmaceutical company
- Roche
- BNF chapter
- Malignant disease and immunosuppression
- Submission type
- Full
- Status
- Restricted
- Date advice published
- 11 December 2006