iodine-131-rituximab

**Iodine-131-rituximab** is an experimental radioimmunoconjugate consisting of rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody targeting the CD20 antigen on B cells, directly labeled with the beta-emitting radionuclide iodine-131. The drug is designed as a form of targeted radioimmunotherapy: the antibody delivers cytotoxic radiation specifically to CD20-positive B lymphocytes, leading to cell death via the emitted beta and gamma radiation. This mechanism combines the immunotherapeutic effect of rituximab (including complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) with the localized radiotoxicity of iodine-131. Its primary investigation has been in relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This construct is analogous in its rationale to the FDA-approved BEXXAR regimen (iodine-131-tositumomab), but substitutes rituximab for tositumomab[1][3][9].

Other names

iodine-131-rituximabiodine131-rituximabiodine 131-rituximab