Combination therapy with rituximab ['MabThera', 'Rituxan'] and standard CHOP*was effective in the treatment of both aggressive and indolent (low-grade) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology [ASH;Orlando, US; December 2001]. Two-year results from the phase III GELA (Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte) study showed that addition of rituximab to the CHOP regimen significantly increased survival and response rates, relative to CHOP alone.**In the second NHL study, which began in 1994, a 100% response rate was achieved with the combination of rituximab and CHOP. Other studies presented at the ASH meeting showed that rituximab was effective as monotherapy and in combination with fludarabine and/or cyclophosphamide in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Rituximab monotherapy also demonstrated efficacy in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a B-cell mediated immune disorder characterised by bruising and abnormal bleeding, in two studies presented at the meeting.