Rituximab News and Research

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Rituximab is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used alone or with other drugs to treat certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is also approved to be used with methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Rituximab is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer and other conditions.

NEI researchers identify unique population of B cells that tamps down the immune system

Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have identified, isolated, and characterized a unique population of B cells that tamps down the immune system, reducing chronic inflammation.

2 Dec 2021

Vaccine-induced immune responses for SARS-CoV-2 in patients receiving anti-CD20 B-cell depleting therapies

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server analyzed the trajectories of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients from the RituxiVac study were compared to healthy volunteers. In addition, they investigated the immunogenicity of a third vaccine dose in previously non-responding patients.

23 Nov 2021

Results of high-impact clinical trials could affect kidney-related medical care

The results of numerous high-impact clinical trials that could affect kidney-related medical care will be presented online at ASN Kidney Week 2021 November 4–November 7.

7 Nov 2021

Ibrutinib plus standard chemotherapy effective in younger patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Younger patients with specific genetic subtypes of non-GCB DLBCL, called MCD and N1, had an exceptional response to the treatment combination.

5 Nov 2021

Immunocompromised patients using rituximab could benefit from third COVID-19 booster vaccine

New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, shows immunocompromised patients using rituximab (a drug used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis) were able to produce antibodies against COVID-19 (seroconvert) after receiving a third COVID-19 vaccine dose, even if there was no development of the antibody after the first two doses of the vaccine.

2 Nov 2021

Study: Ultra-low rituximab dose maintains low disease activity for most RA patients

New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, shows that in one study, the majority of rheumatoid arthritis patients on an ultra-low dose of the drug rituximab maintained low disease activity for up to four years, and rarely needed to switch to other biologic drugs or glucocorticoids to control their disease.

2 Nov 2021

Study reassures the safety, immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines for patients with rheumatic diseases

New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, shows that the COVID-19 vaccine was not associated with severe disease flares in patients with rheumatic diseases.

1 Nov 2021

Cancer patients have impaired antibody responses to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines

A new study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server studies the neutralizing antibody response in cancer patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lung cancer, breast cancer, and various non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL), post-reception of two doses of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.

25 Oct 2021

An investigation of three SARS-CoV-2 mRNA doses in multiple sclerosis vaccine non-responders

A clinical study by a team of scientists from Norway aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of a third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in MS patients treated with anti-CD20 therapy or fingolimod. A preprint version of the study, which is yet to undergo peer review, is available on the medRxiv* server.

20 Oct 2021

Factors contributing to a weak antibody response to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

A new study discusses risk factors for the failure of seroconversion following full vaccination with the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.

18 Oct 2021

The impact of multiple sclerosis therapy on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy

In a paper, the vaccine-induced cellular and immune response of MS patients receiving a range of therapies are assessed.

23 Sep 2021

Immune-mediated inflammatory disease may increase risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes

Researchers in the UK have conducted a large population-based study showing that people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) appear to be at an increased risk of serious outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

14 Sep 2021

Modified R-CODOX-M/IVAC regimen shows promise for treating sporadic Burkitt lymphoma

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that comes in three different variants: endemic, immunodeficiency-associated, and sporadic. Of these variants, sporadic BL is most commonly found outside malaria-endemic countries and typically seen in young adults.

1 Sep 2021

Persistence of Anti-PF4 levels in VITT patients four months after AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

A study published on medRxiv* preprint server reported the over-time changes in the ability of the serum to activate platelets in vitro.

25 Aug 2021

Naive B cells could be useful for predicting vaccination response in immunocompromised

A recent study conducted at the Medical University of Graz, Austria, has revealed that the number of naïve B cells in the blood could independently predict the magnitude of immune response induced by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in immunocompromised patients. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

17 Aug 2021

Immunogenicity of mRNA vaccine against emerging strains of SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised patients

A study measured neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine responses in immunocompromised patients with systemic inflammatory diseases.

11 Aug 2021

Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases

A recent study discusses the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with SARDs who were previously vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.

11 Aug 2021

Study shows impaired SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine antibody response in individuals with chronic conditions

A recent study in Colorado used real-world data to evaluate if individuals with chronic conditions have reduced antibody response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. The study investigated whether some medical conditions may impact antibody response to the mRNA vaccines.

9 Aug 2021

Combination therapy improves outcomes for relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Shuo Ma, MD, '00 PhD, associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, was co-first author of the clinical trial published in Blood.

5 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine efficacy reduced in patients with CD20-B-cell depleting treatment history

Researchers from Switzerland recently investigated humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to mRNA-based vaccines in patients undergoing treatment with CD20-B-cell depleting agents for autoimmune diseases, transplantation, or malignancy.

12 Jul 2021