Rituximab

Literature References: Genetically engineered chimeric murine-human monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen found on normal and malignant B lymphocyte surfaces. Contains murine light and heavy-chain variable regions and g1 heavy-chain and k light chain human constant regions. Composed of 2 heavy chains of 451 amino acids and 2 light chains of 213 amino acids; approx mol wt 145 kD. Prepn: D. R. Anderson et al., WO 9411026; eidem, US 5763137 (1994, 1998 both to IDEC); M. E. Reff et al., Blood 83, 435 (1994). HPLC determn of product purity: K. G. Moorhouse et al., J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 16, 593 (1997). Clinical pharmacokinetics: N. L. Berinstein et al., Ann. Oncol. 9, 995 (1998). Clinical trial in lymphoma: P. McLaughlin et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 16, 2825 (1998); in combination with CHOP chemotherapy: M. S. Czuczman et al., ibid. 17, 268 (1999). Review of clinical studies: C. A. White, Cancer Biother. Radiopharm. 14, 241-250 (1999); and pharmacology: S. V. Onrust et al., Drugs 58, 79-88 (1999). Clinical evaluation in hematologic autoimmune diseases: F. Zaja et al., Haematologica 87, 189 (2002).