Potential new use for rituximab in CLL

World biotechnology giant Genentech and USA-based Biogen Idec say that a global Phase III study of Rituxan (rituximab) with chemotherapy met its primary endpoint of improving progression-free survival in previously-treated CD20-positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients compared to chemotherapy alone.

Sold by Swiss drug major Roche in Europe as MabThera, the drug has already been used for over 10 years to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other types of blood cancer. Analysts say that an approval for CLL, which is the most common type of leukemia, could increase sales of the drug from 500.0 million Swiss francs ($436.2 million) to 2.0 billion francs. Global sales of the agent totaled $2.5 billion in the first half of the year.

According to the firms, there were no new or unexpected safety signals reported in the study. An independent review of the primary endpoint is being conducted for US regulatory purposes.