@Gingergrrl, was cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) mentioned by your doctor? There is an ongoing study at Haukeland University Hospital. To my knowledge the result looks encouraging. Dr. Fluge said in a presentation that if their theory were right, cyclophosphamide was likely to be the drug of choice instead of Rituximab, due to its rapid onset and its low cost. It is still premature to recommend treatment or conclude in any manner, but it is indeed very interesting.
Rituximab in combination with Cellcept (Mycophenolate) could be an interesting combination. But nobody knows.
Obinutuzumab has just been approved. It is said to be even more effective in killing B-cells compared to Rituximab. It also targets CD20 - like Rituximab. To my knowledge no one has tried it against ME.
If I were you and had ME I would try Rituximab if your doctor recommended it. If Cytoxan is on the table I would consider it too, but I guess it is more risky since we don't know a lot about possible adverse effects.
Disclaimer: I am just a lousy economist, so don't listen to what I say
Lord ...
I am so disgusted (and at the same time, as I'm no more a child, not at all surprised) to see that everything is about money ...
Did you know that Genentech,
only for the year 2008 (or 2009, not sure about the year),
just for Rituximab,
just in USA, and
just only for one indication, has made more than 8 billiards profits ??
Did you know that in Europe, the lab developer of Rituximab has lost its rights / patent expired since a few years?
And it is for that (a lot) that European's country use less Mab Thera (Rituximab's trade name in Europe)?
In France, Rtx has the AMM (authorization/labelized) for three major diseases, but still come to remove one? (Goujerot -Sjogren)? ...
Do you know that one gram of Ritux cost € 3,000 in Europe, almost the double in the US, and .... € 350 per gram in India ??? !!! ............. Just sayin..........
And now, under the pretext that drugs like Cyclo is cheaper, do we will consider us as lucky to qualify for Cyclo in several years, eh, not before ??
While it is far more dangerous than Rituximab ?!......
It is shameful.
Yes, I suppose we should consider us as happy and lucky, if we can have a drug, and we will kneel down and say thank you and amen ...
Anyway, these patent considerations, those billions of dollars, even if we are aware of this sad reality, we will not change the world ... so ... lets feel happy, uh ? ....