FAQs

  • What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
  • What are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
  • What is Vortuxi?
  • What should i tell my Doctor before receiving Vortuxi?
  • How Vortuxi is given
  • When to receive your next Course

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. It occurs when the immune system, which normally defends the body from invading organisms, turns its attack against the membrane lining the joints. This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around the joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis mainly affects the joints. It can cause problems in any joint in the body, although the small joints in the hands and feet are often the first to be affected.The main symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis are outlined below.

  • Joint pain, tenderness, swelling or stiffness for six weeks or longer
  • Morning stiffness for 30 minutes or longer
  • Pain in more than one Joint (Wrist, knee or hip joints)
  • Firm bumps of tissue under the skin on your arms (Rheumatoid nodules)
  • Fatigue, fever and weight loss

VORTUXI is a prescription medicine that is used to treat moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) (Wegener's Granulomatosis) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) with glucocorticoids. VORTUXI is grouped within a class of medications called biologic response modifiers, or biologics. By working on the immune system, biologics block proteins that contribute to the disease process. Because VORTUXI suppresses the immune system, patients are at a greater risk for getting serious infections.

Before receiving VORTUXI, tell your doctor if you:

  • Have had a severe infusion reaction to VORTUXI in the past
  • Have a history of other medical conditions including:
    • Heart problems
    • Irregular heartbeat
    • Chest pain
    • Lung or kidney problems
  • Have had an infection, currently having an infection, or have a weakened immune system
  • Have recently been vaccinated, plan to get a vaccine, or are in contact with someone who is planning to get a vaccine. You should not get certain vaccines before or after receiving VORTUXI. Some types of vaccines can spread to people with a weakened immune system and cause serious problems
  • Have taken VORTUXI in the past
  • Have any other medical conditions
  • Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor about effective birth control
  • Are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed
  • Are taking any medications, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take or have taken:
    • A Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitor medicine
    • A Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD)

VORTUXI® (rituximab) is also administered directly into the bloodstream like some other Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments in order for it to be effective. So, instead of taking as a pill or injection, VORTUXI is delivered as a liquid, flowing slowly through a needle directly into a vein (Intravenous Infusion) by your healthcare professional.

  • Infusions are a relatively common form of treatment used for a variety of conditions
  • One of the advantages of infusions is that they are required less frequently than oral medication or injection
  • Infusions are given by a trained healthcare professional who is there with you to help manage the process and monitor for reactions

VORTUXI® (rituximab) is typically given every 6 months, or based on how you're feeling and your other medical condition, you and your doctor can determine if and when you should start another course of treatment (but no sooner than every 4 months). So be open and honest with your doctor if you feel your symptoms are starting to return,. It'll help you make a more informed and précised decision, together.