Azathioprine

Active ingredient description

Azathioprine is a pro-drug of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP). 6-MP is inactive but acts as a purine antagonist and requires cellular uptake and intracellular anabolism to thioguanine nucleotides (TGNs) for immunosuppression. The TGNs and other metabolites (e.g. 6-methyl-mecaptopurine ribonucleotides) inhibit de novo purine synthesis and purine nucleotide interconversions.

Medicine classification

This medicinal substance has been classified in the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification according to its main therapeutic use as follows:

ATC code
Group title
Classification
Azathioprine
L Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents → L04 Immunosuppressants → L04A Immunosuppressants → L04AX Other immunosuppressants
Discover more medicines within L04AX01

Product monographs

Competent medicine agencies globally have authorized commercialization of this active ingredient according to these medication package inserts (MPIs):

Title
Type
Country
Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)
UK
Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)
UK
Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)
CY

Medicines

Azathioprine is the active ingredient of these drugs:

Drug
Countries

South Africa

Poland

Estonia Lithuania

Germany

Austria Germany Lithuania

Italy

Singapore

Hong Kong New Zealand South Africa

South Africa United Kingdom

United States

Australia

Spain

Austria Estonia

Ireland

Brazil Ecuador

Cyprus Hong Kong

New Zealand

Australia Brazil Canada Cyprus Ecuador

Austria Germany Tunisia

Finland France Germany Spain Tunisia

Brazil

Estonia Ireland Lithuania Poland

South Africa

Structural formula

Graphic representation of the active ingredient's molecular structure

Chemical formula: C₉H₇N₇O₂S
Molecular mass: 277.263 g/mol

3D molecular structure

3D representation of the active ingredient's molecular structure

External identifiers

CAS Substance: 446-86-6
DrugBank Drug: DB00993
KEGG Drug: D00238
PubChem Compound: 2265
RxNorm Ingredient: 1256
SNOMED-CT Concept: 372574004
Azathioprine (substance)
UNII Identifier: MRK240IY2L
AZATHIOPRINE