Rituxan Hycela (Rituximab/Hyaluronidase Human) for Leukemia

Overview
Rituxan Hycela is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and some types of lymphoma. Rituxan Hycela is usually prescribed together with Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) and Fludara (fludarabine). Rituxan Hycela is a combination drug composed of rituximab and hyaluronidase human.

Rituxan Hycela is used in immunotherapy for leukemia. Rituximab is a biologic drug – a genetically engineered protein, or antibody – that attacks specific targets. Rituximab is believed to work by attacking the CD20 antigen, a protein located on the surface of white blood cells called B-lymphocytes. Hyaluronidase human is an enzyme that is believed to work by allowing Rituximab to be injected subcutaneously instead of infused intravenously.

How do I take it?
Rituxan Hycela is administered as a subcutaneous injection. The frequency of Rituxan Hycela administration depends on how the drug is being used.

Rituxan Hycela comes in the form of a single-dose vial.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Rituxan Hycela lists common side effects including fatigue, cough, nausea, vomiting, fever, constipation, low blood cell counts, increased risk for infections, and injection site symptoms including pain, swelling, hardness, redness, bleeding, itching, or rash.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Rituxan Hycela can include hypersensitivity reactions, life-threatening cardiac events, kidney dysfunction, bowel obstruction or perforation, fetal harm in pregnant women, and tumor lysis syndrome (a potentially fatal metabolic condition caused when many cancer cells die at the same time). Taking Rituxan Hycela increases the risk of developing a fatal brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Rituxan Hycela can also increase the likelihood of hepatitis B reactivation, potentially resulting in liver failure. Individuals should refrain from live virus vaccinations before and during treatment with Rituxan Hycela.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Rituxan Hycela — Genentech
www.rituxanhycela.com

CLL: Chemotherapy and Drug Therapy — Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
www.lls.org/leukemia/chronic-lymphocytic-leukem...