2.1
Rituximab (MabThera, Roche) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds selectively to the CD20 antigen expressed on the surface of mature B lymphocytes and tumour cells that express CD20. Rituximab is licensed for the first-line treatment of people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in combination with chemotherapy. Rituximab is administered intravenously, once every 4 weeks for a total of 6 cycles; a complete course of treatment with rituximab lasts 24 weeks. Dosing is calculated according to body surface area, with an initial dose of 375 mg/m² followed by 500 mg/m² for all subsequent doses. Six cycles of rituximab equate to a total dose of 2,875 mg/m². The summary of product characteristics states that rituximab should be administered under the close supervision of an experienced physician, and in an environment where full resuscitation facilities are immediately available.