( Seven year follow up of pivotal trial c...)MabThera Significantly Extends Survival And Cures More Patients,With Aggressive Lymphoma Than Chemotherapy Alone,Health

BASEL, Switzerland, June 4, 2007-A follow-up analysis tracking the outcome of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who were treated with the innovative cancer therapy MabThera (rituximab) over seven years ago has revealed exciting results (1).

This analysis of the original pivotal phase III study has shown that over half (53%) of the patients treated with MabThera were still alive after seven years compared with just over a third (36%) of patients who had received chemotherapy alone. This means that for every 100 patients with aggressive NHL, 17 more patients would be alive at seven years due to MabThera.

The analysis also demonstrated that more MabThera treated patients were in remission at seven years compared to chemotherapy alone, 52% vs. 29%. As remissions of greater than 5 years are generally considered to be a cure, this study clearly demonstrates that the addition of MabThera to treatment cures more patients with aggressive lymphoma than chemotherapy alone. These benefits are irrespective of age and are seen even in patients with high risk characteristics.

This study outcome, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, highlights the impressive impact that MabThera is having on aggressive NHL, a disease in which it has already saved thousands of lives.

"This long-term analysis clearly demonstrates the benefits that MabThera, in combination with chemotherapy, provides to patients with aggressive lymphoma," commented Prof. Bertrand Coiffier, from the Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, a primary investigator of the study. "Furthermore, the results confirm that the addition of MabThera to treatment is critical even for older patients as the benefits were seen in all age groups."

"MabThera continues to prolong and rebuild life for patie
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