FDA warns about the side effects of Rituxan

Rituxan (Photo: luhs.org)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about the side effects of Rituxan to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The FDA said two patients taking Rituxan to treat systemic Lupus erythematosus syndrome (SLE) developed PML (Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy), a viral disease of the central nervous system.

FDA determined that Rituxan is not indicated for the treatment of systemic Lupus erythematosus syndrome. The above side effects have been reported in patients 12 months after using Rituxan for the last time.

Rituxan was produced and marketed by Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche Pharmaceuticals in 1997. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease with a major inflammatory response in the active membrane. synovial fluid.