Rituximab

Although rituximab was safe and well tolerated in acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis, researchers noted low probability of it significantly reducing steroid use at 1 year.

In a video interview with Healio, Matthew S. Davids, MD, MMSc, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, talked about results from the phase 3 FLAIR study presented at ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.

The timing of rituximab infusion or cumulative lifetime rituximab dose did not appear statistically significantly associated with risk for hospitalization for COVID-19 among patients with MS who received the drug before getting COVID-19.

The FDA approved rituximab in combination with chemotherapy for several pediatric cancer indications.

Uplizna appeared to benefit patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder who were previously treated with rituximab, according to study results published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.

Baseline use of rituximab compared with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a presenter at ACR Convergence 2021.

Belimumab after rituximab reduces serum IgG anti-double-stranded DNA antibody levels and the risk for severe flare in systemic lupus erythematosus refractory to conventional therapy, according to data.

The presence of anti-rituximab antibodies does not change the response that pediatric patients with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome have to rituximab treatment, according to a speaker from ASN Kidney Week.

Pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis will be critical in managing outpatient COVID-19 infection in patients with immune-mediated conditions, according to speakers at ACR Convergence 2021.

Data presented at ACR Convergence revealed that breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections among patients with rheumatic diseases were more common in those who were treated with CD20 inhibitors or mycophenolate.