FDA approves Genentech’s Rituxan Hycela

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new treatment option for patients with three of the most common types of blood cancer. Genentech’s Rituxan Hycela (rituximab and hyaluronidase human) for subcutaneous injection was approved Thursday to treat adults with previously untreated and relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and previously untreated and previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 

 

“With today’s approval of Rituxan Hycela, people with three of the most common blood cancers now have a new treatment option which provides efficacy comparable with intravenous Rituxan and can be delivered under the skin in minutes instead of hours through IV infusion,” Genentech chief medical officer and head of global product development Dr. Sandra Horning said. “People who benefit from Rituxan may receive years of repeated treatments for their blood cancer, so an option that reduces the administration time can be important.”

 

The company said that it would be available in the United States within one to two weeks, adding that intravenous Rituxan would still be available.