Rituxan rituximab: Additional Phase II/III data

Additional data from the double-blind, international Phase II/III RAVE trial in 197 severe ANCA-positive patients with either Wegener's granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis showed that a non-significantly greater proportion of patients receiving weekly 375 mg/m 2 rituximab for 4 weeks remained in remission off glucocorticoids at both 12 and 18 months vs. 2 mg/kg/day oral cyclophosphamide (42% and 36%, respectively, vs. 38% and 31%). Additionally, average cumulative glucocorticoid dose was significantly lower in patients receiving rituximab at 12 months vs. cyclophosphamide (3,270 vs. 3,678 mg, p=0.031), but not at 18 months (3,541 vs. 3,956 mg, p=0.088). Data were presented at the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association meeting in Prague. ...