What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Certolizumab and rituximab
Certolizumab's FDA label of February 24, 2026 names rituximab in its drug interactions section; the rituximab labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name certolizumab. The certolizumab label: “Therefore, the use of CIMZIA in combination with anakinra, abatacept, rituximab, or natalizumab is not recommended.”
Check it at the source: the certolizumab FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 24, 2026, UCB, Inc.); the rituximab FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 6, 2025, Genentech, Inc.).
What does the certolizumab label say about rituximab?
Certolizumab label, drug interactionsTherefore, the use of CIMZIA in combination with anakinra, abatacept, rituximab, or natalizumab is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ].
Certolizumab label, warnings and precautionsA higher risk of serious infections was also observed in combination use of TNF blockers with abatacept and rituximab.
Source: FDA drug label (Cimzia), BLA125160 (Ucb Inc), as published by UCB, Inc., effective February 24, 2026 (SPL set b4c2c9dc-a0bb-4d64-a667-a67ebe88392d), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the rituximab label say about certolizumab?
Rituximab's label (effective January 6, 2025) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name certolizumab 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
| Certolizumab | Rituximab | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Psoriasis | Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $6,094.02 per syringe 2x200 mg/mL syringe kit | n/a |
| Shortage now | No current entry | 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