Table 3

Reasons why oncology experience with rituximab is most helpful

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and autoimmune diseases have similarities

Provides information on chronic use

Provides a large safety database of >370,000 patient exposures

Provides 7 years of postmarketing experience

Extensive experience allows us to predict and manage infusion reactions

Low infection rate in oncology provides information on potential for infection in rheumatoid arthritis

Mohrbacher Arthritis Research & Therapy 2005 7(Suppl 3):S19   doi:10.1186/ar1739