Riabni (Rituximab-Arrx) for Lymphoma

Overview
Riabni (rituximab-arrx) is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for adults with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system (part of the immune system that helps fight infections). It is used in several ways depending on the type and stage of NHL.

Riabni may be prescribed alone for people with relapsed (returned) or refractory (not responding to previous treatment) low-grade or follicular CD20-positive B-cell NHL. It is also used with chemotherapy for people with previously untreated follicular CD20-positive B-cell NHL and may be given as maintenance therapy (ongoing treatment to prevent recurrence) in those who respond to initial treatment. Additionally, Riabni is approved for previously untreated diffuse large B-cell CD20-positive NHL when combined with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens.

Riabni is also indicated as a single agent for people with non-progressing (including stable disease) low-grade CD20-positive B-cell NHL after first-line treatment with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) chemotherapy.

Riabni is also known by its drug name, rituximab-arrx.

Riabni is a biosimilar, meaning it is highly similar to an already approved biologic drug, Rituxan (rituximab), with no significant clinical differences in safety or effectiveness. Riabni is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody, which means it targets the CD20 protein found on certain B cells (a type of white blood cell), leading to their destruction. This helps slow or stop the progression of lymphoma.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Riabni is administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional. The dosing schedule varies based on the type and stage of lymphoma being treated. Treatment typically follows a cycle, either as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy. Infusions must be given in a medical setting where a person can be monitored for potential severe reactions. Riabni should be taken exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Riabni include infusion-related reactions (such as fever, chills, and low blood pressure), fever, low levels of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell), infections, and fatigue.

Rare but serious side effects may include fatal infusion-related reactions, severe mucocutaneous reactions (serious skin and mucous membrane conditions), hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation leading to liver failure or death, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and potentially fatal brain infection. Other serious risks include tumor lysis syndrome (a life-threatening condition caused by rapid cancer cell breakdown), severe infections, cardiac adverse reactions, renal toxicity (kidney damage), and bowel obstruction or perforation (a hole in the intestine). Live virus vaccines should be avoided before or during treatment. Riabni may also cause harm to an unborn fetus, so effective contraception is recommended.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Riabni — Rituximab-Arrx Injection, Solution — DailyMed