MabThera rituximab regulatory update

The U.K.'s NICE issued a preliminary appraisal recommending the use of Roche's MabThera rituximab in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide to treat relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The agency recommended against the mAb's use with other chemotherapeutics and in patients who have been previously treated with rituximab or who are refractory to fludarabine. MabThera is approved in combination with chemotherapy for first-line and relapsed or refractory CLL. In July, NICE backed the chimeric mAb against CD20 for first-line treatment in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide. ...