DALLAS, Texas–More than half of patients whose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) does not respond to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors are likely to benefit from a short course of ritixumab (Rituxan®) added to background methotrexate (MTX), according to data from the pivotal trial that led to FDA approval of this combination for patients with hard-to-treat RA. Lead investigator Stanley B. Cohen, MD, reports 24-week safety and efficacy data from the phase III Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Efficacy of Rituximab in RA (REFLEX) Trial in the September Arthritis & Rheumatism.1
Rituximab is a genetically engineered chimeric monoclonal antibody that depletes CD20+ B-cells and is widely used for treatment of several types of lymphoma. Earlier this year Edward Keystone, MD, reported at EULAR that 1-year follow up of the REFLEX patients shows that the rituximab/MTX combination also inhibits the progression of joint structural damage.2