Ristova® 500mg/50ml Injection (Rituximab) – Targeted Therapy (Rx)

Quick answer: Ristova 500mg (rituximab) is Roche’s anti-CD20 antibody for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), rheumatoid arthritis and two forms of vasculitis. A nurse gives it as a slow drip into a vein in hospital. MedHub supplies it on prescription and delivers it in cold-chain packaging across Pakistan.

Patient and caregiver information

What is Ristova 500mg?

Ristova is the name Roche uses for rituximab in Pakistan. Each vial holds 500mg of rituximab in 50ml of clear concentrate, and the hospital pharmacy dilutes it in a saline bag before use. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody. It attaches to a marker called CD20 on the surface of B cells, a type of white blood cell, and signals your immune system to clear them.

What is it used for?

Specialists prescribe rituximab for the following conditions:

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, usually alongside chemotherapy, and sometimes on its own as maintenance.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: combined with chemotherapy, for newly diagnosed or returning disease.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: with methotrexate, when other biological treatments have not controlled the joint disease.
• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis: two rare conditions where blood vessels become inflamed, given with steroids.
• Pemphigus vulgaris: a serious blistering skin condition, in moderate to severe cases.

Your haematologist, oncologist or rheumatologist decides whether it suits you after reviewing your diagnosis, scans and blood results.

How is it given?

Ristova 500mg is given by trained healthcare staff in a hospital or clinic, as an injection or infusion. Your doctor decides the dose and the treatment schedule.

Common side effects

• Infusion reactions such as chills, fever, itching, flushing or a tight chest
• Throat, chest and urine infections
• Low white cell counts
• Headache and tiredness
• Nausea or an upset stomach

Contact your hospital team straight away if you notice breathing trouble or face swelling during the drip, a high temperature, yellowing of the skin, peeling or blistering skin, or new confusion, weakness or changes in vision.

Storage and transportation

Transportation of cold-chain products must go through the dispensing pharmacy and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Ask your dispensing pharmacist if you have any questions about handling.

How to order from MedHub

1. Send a photo of your prescription on WhatsApp.
2. Our pharmacist confirms the price and stock with you.
3. We pack the vial in a cold-chain box and deliver it to your city or hospital.

Families in the UAE, UK and Saudi Arabia regularly arrange Ristova 500mg for family in Pakistan through MedHub. If the prescribed dose needs a smaller top-up vial, see Ristova 100mg/10ml. You can also compare Rituxim 500mg/50ml (rituximab) or browse our oncology medicines.

For healthcare professionals

• Composition: rituximab 500 mg/50 ml (10 mg/ml) concentrate for solution for infusion
• Drug class: chimeric murine/human IgG1 anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody
• Indications: follicular lymphoma (previously untreated, with chemotherapy; maintenance in responders; relapsed or refractory disease as monotherapy); CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with CHOP chemotherapy; CLL with chemotherapy, untreated or relapsed/refractory; severe active rheumatoid arthritis with methotrexate after inadequate response or intolerance to TNF inhibitors; granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis with glucocorticoids; moderate to severe pemphigus vulgaris
• Mechanism: binds CD20 on pre-B and mature B lymphocytes and causes B-cell lysis through complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and apoptosis
• Label dose: NHL 375 mg/m² per infusion according to regimen; CLL 375 mg/m² in cycle 1, then 500 mg/m² in cycles 2–6; rheumatoid arthritis two 1000 mg infusions two weeks apart; GPA/MPA induction 375 mg/m² weekly for 4 weeks
• Monitoring / key precautions: premedicate with an antipyretic and antihistamine, plus a glucocorticoid as per label; start the first infusion at 50 mg/h and escalate; screen for hepatitis B before treatment; monitor for infusion reactions, tumour lysis syndrome in high tumour burden, severe mucocutaneous reactions, PML and cardiac events; check blood counts; avoid live vaccines
• Storage: 2–8°C in the outer carton to protect from light; do not freeze
• Manufacturer: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Switzerland
• Marketed in Pakistan by: Roche Pakistan Ltd
• Pack: 1 vial (50 ml)

Frequently asked questions

What is Ristova 500mg?

Ristova is the name Roche uses for rituximab in Pakistan.

What is Ristova 500mg used for?

It treats non-Hodgkin lymphoma and CLL, and doctors also use it for rheumatoid arthritis, two types of vasculitis and pemphigus vulgaris. In blood cancers it usually goes alongside chemotherapy.

How is Ristova 500mg given?

Ristova 500mg is given by trained healthcare staff in a hospital or clinic, as an injection or infusion. Your doctor decides the dose and the treatment schedule.

How does Ristova 500mg work?

Ristova 500mg is a laboratory-made antibody given into a vein. It travels through the bloodstream and attaches to a marker called CD20 on the surface of B cells. This flags the B cells, including cancerous ones in lymphoma and leukaemia, so the immune system can destroy them. In rheumatoid arthritis, lowering the number of B cells calms the immune attack on the joints.

What precautions should I know before using Ristova 500mg?

Before treatment, tell your doctor about any current infection, past hepatitis B, heart or lung disease, and blood pressure medicines. Hepatitis B can become active again, so you will be tested first. Avoid live vaccines during and after treatment. Use effective contraception for 12 months after the last dose. Report straight away fever, chills, rash or breathing trouble during the infusion, blistering skin or mouth sores, signs of infection, or new confusion or vision changes.

What is the Ristova 500mg price in Pakistan?

Ristova 500mg costs Rs 106,880 per vial. Contact MedHub to confirm current price, availability and delivery options.

Can I get Ristova 500mg in Lahore, Karachi or Peshawar?

Yes. MedHub serves patients across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Multan and Faisalabad. Contact MedHub to confirm current price, availability and delivery options.

Do I need a prescription to buy Ristova 500mg?

Yes. Ristova 500mg is a prescription-only medicine. Send a clear photo of your doctor's prescription on WhatsApp, and our pharmacist checks it before confirming your order.

Can I order Ristova 500mg for my family in Pakistan from abroad?

Yes. People in the UAE, UK and Saudi Arabia order Ristova 500mg through MedHub for their family in Pakistan. Share the prescription on WhatsApp, and our team guides you through payment and delivery to their home or hospital.

Sources: FDA prescribing information for healthcare professionals; FDA patient leaflet for patients and caregivers. MedHub writes its own plain-language summaries. Always read the leaflet supplied with your medicine.

This information is for general awareness only and is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.