Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody, originally made in mice, which has been humanised so it is in effect a human monoclonal antibody. It is on the WHO "List of Essential Medicines", the most important medications needed in a basic health system.

Rituximab binds to a protein called CD20 which is found on B cells. Because of that it can be effective in treating RA and there is also evidence that it can help in treating other auto-immune diseases like SLE, MS and Sjogren's syndrome.

Like all biological therapeutics it can potentially have very serious adverse side-effects so it is worth getting a prescribing doctor to explain those to you before deciding whether or not to use it.