pembrolizumab + rituximab

This combination therapy consists of pembrolizumab and rituximab and is being investigated for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that functions as an immune checkpoint inhibitor by targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor. By blocking the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2), it prevents the inhibition of T-cell activity, thereby enhancing the immune system's ability to attack malignant cells. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen found on the surface of B-lymphocytes. It induces B-cell depletion through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and apoptosis. The combination is currently being evaluated in the Phase II PembroWM trial led by University College London, marking the first investigation of checkpoint inhibition in this specific disease context.

Brand names

KeytrudaRituxanMabThera

Other names

pembrolizumab and rituximabrituximab and pembrolizumab