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Updated NICE Guideline Recommends Rituximab for Follicular Lymphoma

LONDON -- February 28, 2008 -- New guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends rituximab for the treatment of relapsed or refractory stage III or IV follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"I am delighted to say that our Independent Advisory Committee has recommended rituximab as a treatment option for people with relapsed stage III or IV follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," said Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive, NICE, and Executive Lead for this guidance. "This guidance updates and expands the previous recommendations issued in 2002 and is good news for people with this condition."

NICE recommends the use of rituximab:
· in combination with chemotherapy, as an option for inducing remission in people with relapsed stage III or IV follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

· as an option for maintenance therapy for people with relapsed stage III or IV follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who have had remission induced with chemotherapy (regardless of whether this was induced with or without rituximab).

· as an option for the treatment of people with relapsed or refractory stage III or IV follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, when all alternative treatment options have been exhausted (that is, if there is resistance to or intolerance of chemotherapy).


SOURCE: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

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