Roche Receives FDA Approval For Leukaemia Drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has approved Rituxan to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Rituxan (rituximab) is intended to treat the slowly progressing blood and bone marrow cancer in patients beginning chemotherapy for the first time and those who have not responded to other cancer drugs, the FDA said.

"Rituxan is the third drug approved for the treatment of CLL since 2008 and underscores FDA's commitment to expediting the development and approval of drugs for patients with serious and life-threatening diseases," said Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the federal agency's Office of Oncology Drug Products.

FDA approved Arzerra (ofatumumab) in October ...

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