The Role of Rituximab in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment and the Potential Utility of Biosimilars.

ABSTRACT: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is managed with observation for asymptomatic or clinically silent disease; pharmacologic intervention is generally required for symptomatic patients with clinically significant adenopathy or cytopenia. In the front-line treatment of CLL, the current standard-of-care includes chemotherapy in combination with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (e.g., rituximab, ofatumumab, or obinutuzumab) or ibrutinib as single agent. Despite the evolving treatment paradigm toward targeted therapy, it is likely that rituximab (plus chemotherapy), with or without targeted agents, will retain a significant role in CLL treatment. However, patents for many biologics, including rituximab, have expired or will expire in the near future. Furthermore, access to rituximab has remaine

SUBMITTER: Brown JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5905689 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature