Ruxience Infusion Therapy

Ruxience is a biologic therapy that is indicated to treat:

• moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and currently taking methotrexate

What Is Ruxience?  

Ruxience (rituximab-pvvr) is a prescription medication administered for patients in all IVX Health centers via IV infusion. Ruxience is also an FDA-approved biosimilar to Rituxan indicated to treat rheumatoid arthritis in adults. 

A biosimilar is a biologic therapy that has been approved and licensed by the FDA and has shown to have no clinically meaningful difference from an existing therapy, known as the “reference product.” 

How Ruxience Works  

 Ruxience works by destroying immune cells called B-Cells in order to prevent unwanted activity from the immune system that leads to symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 

What Is Ruxience Used For?  

Doctors order rituximab-pvvr to treat: 

• moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and currently taking methotrexate

Ruxience Infusion Dosage and Administration  

Patients receive rituximab-pvvr intravenously. Treatment time for a Ruxience infusion at a medical clinic like IVX Health usually lasts around 90 minutes. 

Dosage and Frequency  

The typical dosage of Ruxience is 1000 mg per infusion. 

The first two Ruxience infusions are administered two weeks apart. Following infusions are generally administered 16-24 weeks apart depending on the patient. 

Administering Ruxience via IV Infusion  

1.  The nurse prepares the patient’s arm by using rubbing alcohol to sterilize the location that is being used to insert the IV needle. 
2. Following needle insertion, the IV line is held in place with tape. 
3. The nurse attaches the patient’s IV line to the line coming down from the bag of medication. 

Every half-an-hour, the patient’s nurse takes his or her vitals. 

Ruxience Infusion Side Effects  

As with all medications, side effects are possible.  

Common side effects include: 

• Infusion-related reactions 
• Infections 
• Body aches Tiredness
• Nausea 
• Low white and red blood cell counts 
• Swelling 
• Diarrhea 
• Muscle spasms  

Additional serious side effects include: 

• Severe skin and mouth reactions 
• Hepatitis B virus reactivation 
• Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy 
• Tumor lysis syndrome  
• Heart problems 
• Kidney problems 
• Stomach and serious bowel problems  

How To Prepare for a Ruxience Infusion  

It is essential that patients inform their physician if they currently have, or have had, any of the conditions listed below: 

• A severe reaction to Ruxience or a rituximab product 
• A history of heart problems, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain 
• Lung or kidney problems 
• An infection or weakened immune system 
• Any serious or recurrent infections 
• Any other medical conditions 
• Are taking any medications, including prescription and over the counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements 

Before treatment, patients should get a good night’s sleep. In addition, they need to drink an adequate amount of fluid and eat a meal before their Ruxience IV infusion treatment at IVX Health. 

During treatment with Ruxience, patients need to avoid receiving live vaccines. 

How to Get a Referral for Ruxience IV Infusions  

Every Ruxience referral must be accompanied by a physician’s order for treatment. 

• Patient information should include: 
• Name 
• Current address 
• Home and mobile phone number 
• Insurance information 

Information the physician must include on the patient’s order for Ruxience IV therapy: 

• Patient’s name and DOB 
• Order date 
• Diagnosis 
• Physician’s name and NPI# 
• Office address, phone, and fax numbers 
• Provider’s signature 

Supporting clinical documentation from the physician should include: 

• Patient’s current weight and height 
• Hepatitis B status & date 
• Most recent CBC results 
• Patient has moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is currently taking methotrexate 

If you or someone you care about has one of the conditions that Ruxience infusions treat, you may want to learn more about IV infusion treatments with rituximab-pvvr. To find an IVX Health infusion center near you, please click here. 

Patients chose IVX Health to receive their ongoing Ruxience treatments because:

• ALL private suites
• Comfortable recliners, with chairs for guests
• Evening & weekend appointments
• Friendly clinical staff deliver personal service
• Big screen TVs, high-speed WiFi, free snacks