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Rituxan® (Rituximab)
A third case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has been reported in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Rituxan®, U.S. regulators said. A 73-year old woman with a diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis of 3 years was diagnosed with PML after receiving Rituxan® injections. Previously, 2 fatal cases of confirmed PML have been reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Rituxan®. The 73-year old woman was the first rheumatoid arthritis patient taking Rituxan® to have contracted the brain illness who was not previously treated with a type of anti-inflammatory drug called a TNF antagonist (Humira, Remicade, Enbrel).
Rituxan® is a powerful medication that is used to suppress the immune system. It works by blocking the effect of specific immune cells in the blood, known as B cells, for up to six to nine months. Rituxan® is approved for use only in patients with certain types of cancer called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and for rheumatoid arthritis when other treatments have failed. Regulators have reports that Rituxan® is also being used in the off-label (unapproved) treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune anemias.
PML is a rare, progressive, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that usually leads to death or severe disability. It is characterized by progressive damage to the white matter of the brain. There are no known interventions that can reliably prevent or adequately treat PML. The signs of PML include confusion, dizziness or loss of balance, difficulty talking or walking, and vision problems. Recognition of these warning signs of PML may be obscured by the fact that they are also associated with the underlying diseases for which Rituxan® may be prescribed.
Rituxan® has also been associated with fatal infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), severe mucocutaneous reactions, Hepatitis B reactivation, cardiac arrhythmias and angina.
Rituxan® is one of the most prominent drugs in a new class called monoclonal antibodies. "It's now the third monoclonal antibody that is associated with PML," said Dr. Charles Bennett. Two other medications from the same class of drugs were removed from the market, Tysabri and Raptiva, due to the risks of PML.
If you or someone you love developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or suffered other adverse effects after using Rituxan®, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Please fill out our online form, or call 1-850-444-9500 or toll free at 1-888-839-3775 to discuss your valuable legal rights with one of the experienced defective drug attorneys at our firm.
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Telephone: 1-850-444-9500 | Toll Free: 1-888-839-3775
