Rituxan vs Truxima (Rituximab)

I am wondering if anybody has had experience with Rituxan and the generic Truxima. I have had Rituxan (brand) 2x in the past 10 years. It seems to work for me and put me in remission for 5 years. Well, last year my platelets dropped and they did a round of the generic Rituxan (Truxima) and now my platelets have dropped again. I got the treatment 8 months ago and I am wondering if the reason I didn't react as well is because I got the generic last year instead of the brand name. My Dr says that they are "biosimilar" and basically the same medication and "the nature of my illness" may be causing me to not react the same. On top of that, insurance most likely will not cover the brand name even if I ask for it. I am frustrated because biosimilar does not mean the same. I am trying to figure out why I didn't react as well this last time. My Dr may be right but I am wondering if there is any validity to my thinking.

What is a biosimilar medication? A biosimilar is a biologic medication. It is highly similar to a biologic medication already approved by FDA – the original biologic (also called the reference product). Biosimilars also have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product.May 7, 2024

Biosimilars Basics for Patients - FDA

FDA (.gov)
www.fda.gov › drugs › biosimilars-basics-patients

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TRUXIMA is a type of biologic called a biosimilardifferences from existing FDA-approved biologic drugs. TRUXIMA is a biosimilar of the drug Rituxan® (rituximab), for the treatment of adults with GPA and MPA. Both TRUXIMA and Rituxan are given along with a type of steroid medicine called glucocorticoids. TRUXIMA® (rituximab-abbs) | GPA or MPA | See Safety Info
TRUXIMA
www.truxima.com  › gpa-mpa

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khakie4 the only sure thing about ITP is that there is no sure thing about ITP !
What is your count now?
Take care and keep us posted.
 

 So I can only offer anecdotal evidence that maybe Truxima is not as effective. You tell me.Here is what I have had:

1st time - 2 doses of Rituxin (basically 1/2 of normal). Remission lasted little over 2 years.
2nd time - 4 doses of Rituxin (ie: full dose).  Remission lasted 5 years.
3rd time - 4 doses of Truxima. Remission lasted 3 years
4th time - 4 doses of Truxima, undergoing now, just finished 2nd infusion.  Remission length? We’ll see.

Like you said though they won’t give me Rituxin just because i ask, it’s all up to the insurance what they would pay for.  I guess if Dr. believed it was better he could try and advocate for it but I don’t know the evidence is there.