Rituximab
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Better Known as: Rituxan
- Marketed By: Biogen Idec, Genentech & Roche
- Major Indications: B-Cell & Follicular Lymphoma, Leukemia, & Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Drug Class: Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibody
- Date of FDA Approval (Patent Expiration): 1997 (2015)
- 2009 Sales: $5.7 Billion
- Importance: The best cancer drug in the world. It was the first monoclonal antibody to be approved by the FDA which selectively targets CD20 on B-cells.
- See Pharmaceutical Drugs for more information about other drugs and diseases.
Mechanism of Action
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia & Rheumatoid Arthritis are diseases associated with B-cell dysfunction. B-cells play a key role in the humoral immune system by acting as antigen-presenting cells (which activate T-cells) and by eventually producing antibodies against invading antigens.[1] Although the function of B-Lymphocyte Antigen CD20 has not yet been determined, and in fact knockout mice which do not produce CD20 are healthy, CD20 is expressed on almost all normal and malignant B-cells.[2] A number of studies have demonstrated that the binding of monoclonal antibodies to CD20 results in recruitment of immunological devices that trigger cytotoxic events, such as compliment-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). CDC is the major natural immune response in the body triggered by antibody binding, used to eliminate invading or dysfunctional pathogenic cells.[3] Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody.
References
- ↑ Montecino-Rodriguez E, Dorshkind K. New perspectives in B-1 B cell development and function. Trends Immunol. 2006 Sep;27(9):428-33. Epub 2006 Jul 24. PMID:16861037 doi:10.1016/j.it.2006.07.005
- ↑ Cragg MS, Walshe CA, Ivanov AO, Glennie MJ. The biology of CD20 and its potential as a target for mAb therapy. Curr Dir Autoimmun. 2005;8:140-74. PMID:15564720 doi:10.1159/000082102
- ↑ Zhang B. Ofatumumab. MAbs. 2009 Jul-Aug;1(4):326-31. Epub 2009 Jul 1. PMID:20068404