Rituximab (Rituxan/MabThera): the first decade (1993-2003).
The first antibody approved for the treatment of cancer, rituximab (Rituxan/MabThera), underwent clinical development between 1993 and 1996. It fulfilled predictions dating back to the early 1900s regarding the therapeutic effect of antibodies and sparked a renewed interest in this area of research. Rituximab was approved, in the USA in 1997 and in Europe in 1998, for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Since then, hundreds of thousands of patients have been treated with rituximab. In 2002, rituximab became the number one anticancer drug worldwide. During its first decade of use (1993-2003), rituximab has had an important impact on treatment strategies for lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies. During the 5 years following approval, its applications expanded beyond non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to a variety of malignant and non-malignant B-cell disorders. Also, as a result of its early clinical trials, initiatives came about that eventually led to the development of the new international response criteria for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Rituximab has been characterized as the most important therapeutic development of the decade.
Grillo-López
Antonio J
AJ
Neoplastic and Autoimmune Diseases, Research Institute, Rancho Santa Fé, CA 92067, USA. agrillo1@aol.com
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab