Rituxan (rituximab) is a genetically engineered chimeric murine-human monoclonal antibody drug that recognizes and binds specifically to the CD20 molecule. CD20 is a protein biomarker displayed on B lymphocytes (B cells for short) — a type of immune cells.

Rituxan was approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (of particular stages and types) and rheumatoid arthritis. About 63,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2007. There are presently about 2.4 million patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the U.S.

Rituxan targets CD20-expressing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma B cells and normal mature B cells. It ... Read more