What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Bendamustine and rituximab
Bendamustine's FDA label of May 11, 2026 names rituximab in its warnings and precautions section; the rituximab labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name bendamustine.
Check it at the source: the bendamustine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 11, 2026, Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc.); the rituximab FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 6, 2025, Genentech, Inc.).
What does the bendamustine label say about rituximab?
Bendamustine label, warnings and precautionsLeukoencephalopathy (PML) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), including fatal cases, have occurred following treatment with bendamustine, primarily in combination with rituximab or obinutuzumab [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )].
Source: FDA drug label (Bendamustine Hydrochloride, NDA215033), Apotex Corp, effective September 9, 2026 (SPL set 085dd54c-4212-d879-afef-ee52732a48c0), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Bendamustine), Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective May 11, 2026 (SPL set 40f6f58d-d9ac-4f65-9fc7-16984bf1f180), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the rituximab label say about bendamustine?
Rituximab's label (effective January 6, 2025) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name bendamustine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Rituxan), Genentech, Inc., effective January 6, 2025 (SPL set b172773b-3905-4a1c-ad95-bab4b6126563), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Bendamustine | Rituximab | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma | Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | n/a | n/a |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once