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rituximab (Usmal / BCD020 / AcellBia)

✓ Approved

Grupo Biotoscana · MS4A1 · Monoclonal Antibodies

What is rituximab?

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

Drug Profile

Brand NamesUsmal, BCD020, AcellBia
CompanyGrupo Biotoscana
Drug ClassMonoclonal Antibodies, Antibody
Molecular TargetMS4A1
RouteInjectable (Others), Intracerebral/cerebroventricular Injection, Intravenous (IV), Subcutaneous Injection
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Grupo Biotoscana

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 7 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)Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma✓ Approved
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disordersRheumatoid arthritis✓ Approved
Vascular disordersMicroscopic polyangiitisPreclinical

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Related Research Articles

PubMedJournal of clinical and experimental hematopathology : JCEH2026-08-30

Successful treatment of refractory hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicating Epstein-Barr virus-positive classic Hodgkin lymphoma with rituximab.

Ichikawa Satoshi S, Suzuki Yutaka Y, Tanaka Yuya Y, Kanba Keita K et al.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) complicating classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL-HLH) is a rare but frequently life-threatening condition that is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, particularly in the mixed-cellularity and lymphocyte-depleted subtypes. No consensus has been reached regarding treatment for HL-HLH, and the myelotoxicity induced by etoposide-based HLH-directed therapy precludes its safe addition to intensive lymphoma-directed chemotherapy, particularly in older patients. We here report the case of a male in his early 70s with advanced EBV-positive mixed-cellularity classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) who presented with cervical lymphadenopathy, fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and a markedly elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level, along with a high peripheral blood EBV DNA load. EBV-encoded small RNA in situ hybridization confirmed EBV positivity in lymphoma cells. His fever was steroid-refractory, and chemotherapy with brentuximab vedotin, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (BV-AVD) was initiated immediately following the diagnosis was confirmed. However, the persistent high fever did not resolve, and progressive cytopenia, marked hyperferritinemia, and further increase in sIL-2R levels were observed. Repeat bone marrow examinations revealed macrophage activation with hemophagocytosis, confirming HLH as a complication. Rituximab was promptly administered, and the fever resolved within 3 days. Furthermore, ferritin, sIL-2R, and lactate dehydrogenase levels substantially declined within 1 week, with peripheral blood EBV DNA becoming undetectable. BV-AVD was continued without major complications and led to a complete response after six cycles. Rituximab may represent a strategically timed and reasonable adjunctive intervention for EBV-driven HL-HLH that is refractory to, or develops following, chemotherapy for CHL.

PMID 42669549
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PubMediScience2026-08-30

Single-cell transcriptomic signatures of T cells associated with rituximab responsiveness in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Koshi-Ito Eri E, Watanabe Yu Y, Onogi Chikao C, Horinouchi Asuka A et al.

Rituximab (RTX) is increasingly used in steroid-dependent minimal change disease, a leading cause of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), yet predictors of response remain unclear. Although RTX primarily targets B cells, T cells are also implicated in INS pathogenesis. We investigated RTX-induced T cell dynamics by single-cell RNA sequencing/T cell receptor profiling of peripheral T cells from three responders and three non-responders before and after RTX treatment. Responders exhibited RTX-driven broad transcriptomic remodeling, accompanied by reduced exhausted CD8+ T cells and clonal expansion of CD4+ cytotoxic T cells with enhanced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) signatures, whereas non-responders showed marginal changes. In a separate cohort, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels tended to be higher in responders, and declined post-RTX, collectively associating enhanced mitochondrial activity with favorable response. Reanalysis of childhood INS data supported altered B-T cell crosstalk and T cell metabolism. Together, T cells may influence RTX responsiveness, warranting further biomarker studies.

PMID 42668630
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PubMedTransplantation reviews (Orlando, Fla.)2026-08-30

Malignancy after lung transplantation: Understanding risk and navigating treatment.

Yang Haoshuai H, Yang Zhanglin Z, Xu Kai K, Chen Qi Q et al.

Malignancy has become a major limitation to long-term survival after lung transplantation. Its risk is shaped by recipient susceptibility, transplant anatomy, oncogenic viruses, long-term immunosuppression, and drug exposure. This narrative review integrates epidemiological, mechanistic, and clinical evidence and proposes a management framework spanning pre-transplant assessment, post-transplant surveillance, and treatment after cancer diagnosis. Lung cancer arises predominantly in the retained native lung after single-lung transplantation; early detection and curative treatment are central to improving outcomes. Keratinocyte carcinoma is common and recurrent, requiring coordinated dermatological surveillance, preventive treatment, and review of relevant drug exposures. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is closely linked to impaired Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immune control. High-risk recipients warrant longitudinal viral monitoring, but diagnosis still requires histopathology, and treatment is based on reduced immunosuppression and response-adapted rituximab-based strategies. After cancer diagnosis, immunosuppression should be reconfigured according to tumour lethality, allograft reserve, and rejection risk, while coordinating anticancer therapy with allograft protection. Biomarkers may support monitoring, antibody-drug conjugates may expand treatment options, and immune checkpoint inhibitors may cause fatal allograft injury. Future work should use prospective registries and auditable pathways to evaluate cancer control and allograft outcomes together.

PMID 42669217
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PubMedRheumatology international2026-08-29

Suspected shrinking lung syndrome: a rare pulmonary manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus-a case-based review of an underrecognized condition.

Maj Maciej M, Oknińska Maria M, Robaczyńska Joanna J, Dziewit Martyna M et al.

Shrinking lung syndrome (SLS) is a rare pulmonary manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is characterized by unexplained dyspnea, restrictive ventilatory defect, and diaphragmatic elevation without interstitial lung disease (ILD). A 32-year-old man with SLE presented with progressive dyspnea initially attributed to pleural and infectious processes. As systemic features evolved, SLE was confirmed. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) showed severe restriction (forced vital capacity-FVC-28%, total lung capacity-TLC-37%), with elevated hemidiaphragm and no alternative pulmonary pathology, supporting the diagnosis of SLS. Treatment with highdose glucocorticoids, rituximab, and mycophenolate mofetil resulted in marked clinical improvement, substantial recovery of lung function (FVC 65%), and successful glucocorticoid withdrawal. A structured literature review (January 2021-March 2026) identified 19 studies reporting 37 SLS cases. Dyspnea was the predominant manifestation, frequently accompanied by pleuritic chest pain and dry cough. Restrictive ventilatory defects were consistently reported, with significantly reduced FVC, TLC, and transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide values. Imaging most commonly demonstrated elevated hemidiaphragm(s) and reduced lung volumes without ILD. Treatment predominantly involved glucocorticoids, often combined with steroid-sparing agents. Rituximab was frequently used as a steroid-sparing agent in severe/refractory cases and was generally associated with clinical and functional improvement. Based on the presented case and cases identified in literature, SLS remains a diagnostic challenge and should be considered in patients with SLE presenting with unexplained dyspnea and restrictive physiology. Early recognition and prompt immunosuppressive therapy may improve outcomes.

PMID 42667375
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PubMedCureus2026-08-29

Concurrent Kaposi Sarcoma and B-cell Lymphoma in an HIV-Negative Patient: A Case Report.

Faik Ouahab Marwa M, El Ghouti Bouchra B, Chiheb Soumiya S, Eljazouly Madiha M

We report the case of a 70-year-old non-immunocompromised male patient with coexisting classic Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and stage IV B-cell lymphocytic lymphoma. KS had been evolving insidiously since 2017 but was only confirmed in 2024 following a retrospective histological re-review. The patient received two lines of systemic chemotherapy, rituximab plus bendamustine (R-BENDA) followed by paclitaxel, with transient clinical responses before disease progression. This case suggests that the intrinsic immune dysfunction associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may provide a permissive environment for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) reactivation in the absence of classically recognized immunodeficiency states (HIV infection, iatrogenic immunosuppression, or primary immunodeficiency) and underscores the importance of histological re-review of atypical or long-standing cutaneous lesions.

PMID 42667037
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PubMedEuropean heart journal. Case reports2026-08-29

Case report: primary cardiac lymphoma presenting as acute coronary syndrome and atrioventricular block due to right coronary artery compression.

Belmonte Herrera Clara C, Ble Gimeno Mireia M, Belarte Tornero Laia L, Martínez Membrive María José MJ et al.

Cardiac tumours are exceedingly rare and often present with non-specific clinical manifestations, making diagnosis challenging. Primary cardiac lymphoma represents a small proportion of primary cardiac tumours and may occasionally mimic acute coronary syndromes due to mass effect on coronary arteries or the conduction system. We report the case of a 61-year-old woman admitted for syncope who subsequently developed chest pain, inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and complete atrioventricular block. Emergency coronary angiography revealed no obstructive coronary disease but demonstrated extrinsic compression and stiffness of the right coronary artery. Transthoracic echocardiography identified a large right ventricular mass with tricuspid valve involvement and right ventricular inflow obstruction, associated with pericardial and pleural effusion. Multimodality imaging with computed tomography and positron emission tomography showed a large hypermetabolic cardiac mass with mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Histological analysis from a computed tomography-guided biopsy confirmed primary cardiac high-grade B-cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone was initiated, leading to significant tumour reduction but complicated by transient chemotherapy-induced left ventricular dysfunction, which was managed through a multidisciplinary cardio-oncology approach. Despite initial clinical and cardiac improvement, the patient later developed central nervous system progression and died 10 months after diagnosis due to therapy-related neurotoxicity. This case highlights a rare presentation of primary cardiac lymphoma manifesting as acute coronary syndrome and atrioventricular block secondary to extrinsic coronary compression. It underscores the importance of multimodality imaging, histological confirmation, and adherence to European Society of Cardiology cardio-oncology guidelines. Early multidisciplinary management is essential to balance effective oncological treatment with cardiovascular safety.

PMID 42666838
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