Health Canada approves Ziextenzo (pegfilgrastim, reference biologic drug: Neulasta) and Riximyo (rituximab, reference biologic drug: Rituxan) for marketing in Canada. Sandoz Canada

Sandoz Canada Inc., a division of Novartis AG, announced that Health Canada has approved Ziextenzo (pegfilgrastim, reference biologic drug: Neulasta) and Riximyo (rituximab, reference biologic drug: Rituxan) for marketing in Canada. Sandoz Canada received a Notice of Compliance from Health Canada on 21 April 2020, for the use of Ziextenzo to reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia, one of the most serious side effects of chemotherapy. Riximyo was approved on 28 April 2020, to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis. Neutropenia is a decrease in the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, which predisposes the body to infections and prevents it from fighting them.