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rituximab (Kikuzubam / PBO326)

✓ Approved

Probiomed · MS4A1 · Monoclonal Antibodies

What is rituximab?

rituximab is a monoclonal antibodies developed by Probiomed. It is approved for therapeutic indications via injectable (others) or intracerebral/cerebroventricular injection or intravenous (iv) or subcutaneous injection.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesKikuzubam, PBO326
CompanyProbiomed
Drug ClassMonoclonal Antibodies, Antibody
Molecular TargetMS4A1
RouteInjectable (Others), Intracerebral/cerebroventricular Injection, Intravenous (IV), Subcutaneous Injection
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Probiomed

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

rituximab acts on 1 molecular target:

MS4A1membrane spanning 4-domains A1 (S7, B1)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

rituximab is developed for 8 unique indications across 4 therapeutic areas.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)B-cell lymphoma✓ Approved
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia✓ Approved
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma✓ Approved
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma✓ Approved
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disordersRheumatoid arthritis✓ Approved

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Related Research Articles

PubMedMedicine2026-09-19

Coinfection of Pneumocystis jirovecii and Aspergillus fumigatus in the lung: A case report.

He Ming-Hong MH, Chen Xiang-Lei XL, Feng Bao-Tong BT

Coinfection with Pneumocystis jirovecii and Aspergillus fumigatus in immunocompromised patients carries high mortality. More importantly, paradoxical clinical and radiological responses during treatment remain poorly understood. A 66-year-old male with mantle cell lymphoma who had received prolonged corticosteroid therapy after suspected rituximab-associated lung injury presented with progressive pulmonary symptoms. Concurrent pulmonary infection with P jirovecii and A fumigatus was confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage combined with metagenomic next-generation sequencing. The patient was treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and voriconazole. Clinical symptoms improved markedly; however, chest imaging showed paradoxical progression, possibly reflecting an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome-like inflammatory response. bronchoalveolar lavage combined with metagenomic next-generation sequencing enables rapid diagnosis of concurrent opportunistic pulmonary infections. Paradoxical radiographic worsening despite clinical improvement may suggest an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome-like inflammatory response, although persistent or progressive infection cannot be excluded.

PMID 42760695
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PubMedMedicine2026-09-19

Nursing care of a pediatric patient with anti-NMDAR encephalitis complicated by secondary epilepsy: A case report.

Huang Qionglei Q, Wang Luyao L

Autoimmune encephalitis in children often presents with neuropsychiatric symptoms and seizures and may progress to secondary epilepsy with prolonged functional impairment. Immunotherapy is the principal disease-modifying treatment, whereas comprehensive nursing care supports safety, complication prevention, rehabilitation, and continuity of care. A 13-year-old girl presented with a 2-month history of intermittent dizziness and poor appetite, followed by abnormal behavior, mood disturbance, visual hallucinations, and seizures. Based on characteristic neuropsychiatric manifestations, positive anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid and serum, and abnormal electroencephalographic findings, the patient was diagnosed with anti-NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis complicated by secondary epilepsy. Infectious encephalitis was initially considered. The patient received first-line immunotherapy including high-dose corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, followed by plasma exchange and second-line rituximab therapy. Antiepileptic drugs and anti-infective treatments were administered as indicated. Whole-process nursing care was implemented across acute, intensive care, rehabilitation, and post-discharge phases. After multidisciplinary treatment and nursing support, the patient regained clear consciousness with improved cognition and communication. Lower-limb muscle strength improved to grade 4/5, seizure frequency markedly decreased, and independent ambulation was achieved. At 3-month follow-up, no relapse was reported and the patient had returned to school. This case highlights the importance of structured seizure safety management, strict infection prevention during immunotherapy, individualized rehabilitation guidance, and family-centered continuing care in pediatric anti-NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis complicated by secondary epilepsy.

PMID 42760736
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PubMedMedicine2026-09-19

Primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma mimicking breast carcinoma: A case report and literature review.

Li Longquan L, Yao Hongxi H, Liu Siyu S, Yin Jieting J et al.

Primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PB-DLBCL) is a rare extranodal manifestation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that can closely resemble breast carcinoma clinically and radiologically. This overlap may delay accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. We report a case of PB-DLBCL in a postmenopausal woman whose initial multimodal imaging findings were suspicious for breast carcinoma, but whose final diagnosis was established by core needle biopsy with immunohistochemical and molecular evaluation. A 59-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with a painless, palpable mass in the right breast that had been present for approximately 3 weeks. Breast ultrasonography, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) demonstrated a suspicious right breast mass with ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy, initially raising concern for breast carcinoma. Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy showed diffuse infiltration by atypical lymphoid cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed a B-cell phenotype, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed no MYC, BCL2, or BCL6 rearrangements. Bone marrow biopsy showed no evidence of marrow involvement. The final diagnosis was PB-DLBCL, non-germinal center B-cell-like (non-GCB) subtype, Ann Arbor stage IIE. The patient received 6 cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemoimmunotherapy. No breast-directed surgery, consolidative radiotherapy, or central nervous system prophylaxis was administered. At 6 weeks after completion of R-CHOP therapy, PET/CT showed complete metabolic resolution of the right breast lesion, with only a residual punctate calcified focus measuring approximately 0.4 × 0.4 × 0.3 cm. The Deauville score decreased from 5 at baseline to 1 after treatment, meeting Lugano criteria for complete response. No clinically significant treatment-related adverse events were documented. PB-DLBCL can closely mimic breast carcinoma on multimodal imaging. Suspicious breast imaging findings do not exclude lymphoma. Tissue diagnosis with adequate immunophenotypic and molecular evaluation is essential before definitive treatment planning to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.

PMID 42760664
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PubMedGastro hep advances2026-09-18

Rituximab as Salvage Therapy in Difficult-to-Treat Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Prospective Case Series.

Lammert Craig C, Blessing Nadia N, Arif Maaz M, Minnaganti Divya D et al.

A subset of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) fail to achieve or sustain a complete biochemical response (CBR) to standard immunosuppression, resulting in a significant unmet clinical need. Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been investigated in refractory AIH, but prospective data remain limited. We sought to characterize the biochemical response and corticosteroid-sparing effects of rituximab in patients with difficult-to-manage AIH. We report a prospective case series of adults with difficult-to-manage AIH enrolled in the Genetic Repository of Autoimmune Liver Disease and Contributing Exposures cohort at Indiana University and treated with rituximab (1000 mg intravenously on days 1 and 15). Eligible patients had refractory disease, corticosteroid dependence, or inadequate biochemical control. Response was assessed at 12, 24, and 48 weeks. CBR was defined as normalization of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and immunoglobulin G. Analyses of biochemical outcomes were restricted to patients with active baseline disease. Seven patients were enrolled; 6 had abnormal baseline biochemical indices. Biochemical improvement at 24 weeks was observed in all 6 patients with active baseline disease (100%), with 1 patient (16.7%) achieving CBR. However, response durability was limited, and biochemical worsening between 24 and 48 weeks occurred in 4 of 6 patients (66.7%). Response patterns included insufficient response with subsequent attenuation (n = 4), sustained CBR (n = 1), and early response followed by relapse (n = 1). Median prednisone-equivalent dose decreased from 30 mg/day at baseline to 12.5 mg/day at 48 weeks (-58.3%). No serious adverse events, infections, or hepatic decompensation occurred. In this prospective cohort of difficult-to-manage AIH, rituximab produced early biochemical improvement and a sustained corticosteroid-sparing effect, but a durable biochemical remission was uncommon. These data support further prospective evaluation of rituximab and next-generation B-cell-directed therapies in refractory AIH.

PMID 42757123
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PubMedFrontiers in immunology2026-09-18

A case report of sequential efgartigimod and rituximab treatment for tSNMG.

Xie Hua H, Pan Ting Ting TT, Zhang Lin L

Trible-seronegative myasthenia gravis (tSNMG) is defined as myasthenia gravis (MG) without detectable or low affinity antibodies to acetylcholine receptor (AChR), muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) andlipoprotein related protein 4(LRP-4). This article reports a case of a 39-year-old married female patient with thymoma-associated seronegative myasthenia gravis (tSNMG), which was accompanied by multiple positive autoantibodies and a benign mediastinal lesion. The primary manifestation was generalized muscle weakness, involving the limbs, bulbar muscles, and respiratory muscles. After admission, the patient showed poor responses to treatments including pyridostigmine bromide, human immunoglobulin, glucocorticoids, and tacrolimus. Ultimately, following therapy with efgartigimod followed by rituximab, significant symptomatic improvement was observed. By analyzing the diagnosis and treatment process of this case alongside relevant literature, this report explores the therapeutic value of efgartigimod followed by rituximab for tSNMG, key points for individualized regimen adjustments, and the challenges in diagnosis and treatment, thereby providing a reference for the clinical management of such refractory cases.

PMID 42755762
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PubMedMediterranean journal of rheumatology2026-09-18

Diagnostic Pitfall: Prolonged COVID-19 Presenting as Organising Pneumonia in a Rituximab-Treated Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Soufla Antigoni A, Fragoulis George E GE, Iliopoulos Alexios A

Rituximab (RTX)-induced B-cell depletion is associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection. We describe a case of persistent COVID-19 in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initially misdiagnosed as cryptogenic organising pneumonia (COP), highlighting the diagnostic and management challenges in RTX-treated patients. Retreatment with a second 5-day course of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir led to rapid clinical improvement and complete radiological resolution. Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered in RTX-treated patients with non-resolving pulmonary infiltrates, particularly when corticosteroid therapy is ineffective.

PMID 42756418
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