Drug guidance
Rituximab for treating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Condition
Blood and Immune System
Cancer
18 January 2021
Published on 18 Jan 2021
Last Updated on 18 Jan 2021
Guidance Recommendations
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
Rituximab biosimilar (Truxima) 100 mg/10 ml and 500 mg/50 ml concentrate for infusion for treating:
CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas,
Stage III-IV follicular lymphoma, or
CD20-positive chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
in line with its registered indications; and
The removal of rituximab reference biologic 100 mg/10 ml and 500 mg/50 ml concentrate for infusion (MabThera) from the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for all indications.
Subsidy status
Truxima 100 mg/10 ml and 500 mg/50 ml concentrate for infusion is recommended for inclusion in the MOH Standard Drug List (SDL) for the abovementioned indications from 18 January 2021. The MAF listing of MabThera will cease on 19 July 2021.
SDL subsidy does not apply to any other rituximab biosimilars (such as Rixathon), or to any formulations or strengths of MabThera.