Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
Quick facts
- Drug class
- Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor [EPC], Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors [MoA]
- How it is given
- intravenous, subcutaneous
- Type
- human prescription drug
- RxNorm ID
- 485246
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
Azacitidine for injection is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor indicated for the treatment of: Adult patients with the following FAB myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtypes: Refractory anemia (RA) or refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) (if accompanied by neutropenia or thrombocytopenia or requiring transfusions), refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL). ( 1.1) 1.1 Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Azacitidine for injection is indicated for treatment of adult patients with the following French-American- British (FAB) myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes: refractory anemia (RA) or refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (if accompanied by neutropenia or thrombocytopenia or requiring transfusions), refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL). Pediatric use information is approved for Celgene Corporation's Vidaza (azacitidine for injection). However, due to Celgene Corporation's marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that information.
About this medicine
Azacitidine for injection contains azacitidine, which is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor. Azacitidine is 4-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-one. The structural formula is as follows: The empirical formula is C 8 H 12 N 4 O 5 . The molecular weight is 244.20. Azacitidine is a white to off- white powder. Azacitidine was found to be soluble in dimethyl sulphoxide, sparingly soluble in water and insoluble in acetone and ethanol. The finished product is supplied in a sterile form for reconstitution as a suspension for subcutaneous injection or reconstitution as a solution with further dilution for intravenous infusion. Vials of azacitidine for injection contain 100 mg of azacitidine and 100 mg mannitol as a sterile lyophilized powder.
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Azacitidine for injection is a pyrimidine nucleoside analog of cytidine. Azacitidine for injection is believed to exert its antineoplastic effects by causing hypomethylation of DNA and direct cytotoxicity on abnormal hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow. The concentration of azacitidine required for maximum inhibition of DNA methylation in vitro does not cause major suppression of DNA synthesis. Hypomethylation may restore normal function to genes that are critical for differentiation and proliferation. The cytotoxic effects of azacitidine cause the death of rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells that are no longer responsive to normal growth control mechanisms.Non-proliferating cells are relatively insensitive to azacitidine.
Who should not take it
Advanced Malignant Hepatic Tumors ( 4.1 ) . Hypersensitivity to Azacitidine or Mannitol (4 .2 ) . 4.1 Advanced Malignant Hepatic Tumors Azacitidine for injection is contraindicated in patients with advanced malignant hepatic tumors [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )]. 4.2 Hypersensitivity to Azacitidine or Mannitol Azacitidine for injection is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to azacitidine or mannitol.
Warnings and cautions
Risks of Substitution with Other Azacitidine Products: Do not substitute azacitidine for injection for oral azacitidine ( 2.1 , 5.1 ). Anemia, Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia: Monitor complete blood counts (CBC) frequently ( 5.2 ). Hepatotoxicity: Patients with severe preexisting hepatic impairment are at higher risk for toxicity ( 5.3 ). Renal Toxicity: Monitor patients with renal impairment for toxicity since azacitidine and its metabolites are primarily excreted by the kidneys ( 5.4 ). Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Azacitidine for injection may cause fatal or serious tumor lysis syndrome, including in patients with MDS. Assess baseline risk and monitor and treat as appropriate ( 5.5 ). Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Azacitidine for injection can cause fetal harm. Advise female patients and male patients with female partners of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception ( 5.6 ). 5.1 Risks of Substitution with Other Azacitidine Products Due to substantial differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] , the recommended dose and schedule for azacitidine for injection are different from those of oral azacitidine products. Treatment of patients using azacitidine for injection at the recommended dosage of oral azacitidine may result in a fatal adverse reaction. Treatment of patients using oral azacitidine at the doses recommended for azacitidine for injection may not be effective. Do not substitute azacitidine for injection for oral azacitidine [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 )] . 5.2 A nemia, Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia Azacitidine for injection causes anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in adult patients with MDS. Monitor complete blood counts frequently for response and/or toxicity, at a minimum, prior to each dosing cycle. In adult patients with MDS, after administration of the recommended dosage for the first cycle, adjust dosage for subsequent cycles based on nadir counts and hematologic response [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 )] . Pediatric use information is approved for Celgene Corporation's Vidaza (azacitidine for injection). […]
Reported side effects
The following adverse reactions are described in other labelingsections: Anemia, Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Hepatotoxicity in Patients with Severe Pre-existing Hepatic Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Renal Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Tumor Lysis Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Most common adverse reactions (>30%) in adult patients with MDS by subcutaneous route are: nausea, anemia, thrombocytopenia, vomiting, pyrexia, leukopenia, diarrhea, injection site erythema, constipation, neutropenia and ecchymosis. Most common adverse reactions by intravenous route also included petechiae, rigors, weakness and hypokalemia ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Dr. REDDY’S LABORATORIES Inc., at 1-888-375-3784 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical TrialsExperience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. MDS The data described below reflect exposure to azacitidine for injection in 443 patients with MDS from 4 clinical studies. Study 1 was a supportive-care controlled trial (subcutaneous administration), Studies 2 and 3 were single arm studies (one with subcutaneous administration and one with intravenous administration), and Study 4 was an international randomized trial (subcutaneous administration) [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] . In Studies 1, 2 and 3, a total of 268 patients were exposed to azacitidine for injection, including 116 exposed for 6 cycles (approximately 6 months) or more and 60 exposed for greater than 12 cycles (approximately one year). Azacitidine for injection was studied primarily in supportive-care controlled and uncontrolled trials (n=150 and n=118, respectively). The population in the subcutaneous studies (n=220) was 23 to 92 years old (mean 66.4 years), 68% male, and 94% white, and had MDS or AML. […]
Use in specific groups
• Lactation: Advise not to breastfeed ( 8.2 ). Pediatric use information is approved for Celgene Corporation's Vidaza (azacitidine for injection). However, due to Celgene Corporation's marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that information. 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, azacitidine for injection can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1 )]. There are no data on the use of azacitidine in pregnant women. Azacitidine was teratogenic and caused embryo-fetal lethality in animals at doses lower than the recommended human daily dose (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus. The background rate of major birth defects and miscarriage is unknown for the indicated population. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2%-4% and 15%-20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Early embryotoxicity studies in mice revealed a 44% frequency of intrauterine embryonal death (increased resorption) after a single IP (intraperitoneal) injection of 6 mg/m 2 (approximately 8% of the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m 2 basis) azacitidine on gestation day 10. Developmental abnormalities in the brain have been detected in mice given azacitidine on or before gestation day 15 at doses of ~3-12 mg/m 2 (approximately 4%-16% the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m 2 basis). In rats, azacitidine was clearly embryotoxic when given IP on gestation days 4-8 (postimplantation) at a dose of 6 mg/m 2 (approximately 8% of the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m 2 basis), although treatment in the preimplantation period (on gestation days 1-3) had no adverse effect on the embryos. Azacitidine caused multiple fetal abnormalities in rats after a single IP dose of 3 to 12 mg/m 2 (approximately 8% the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m 2 basis) given on gestation day 9, 10, 11 or 12. […]
If too much is taken
One case of overdose with azacitidine for injection was reported during clinical trials. A patient experienced diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting after receiving a single intravenous dose of approximately 290 mg/m 2 , almost 4 times the recommended starting dose. The events resolved without sequelae, and the correct dose was resumed the following day. In the event of overdosage, the patient should be monitored with appropriate blood counts and should receive supportive treatment, as necessary. There is no known specific antidote for azacitidine for injection overdosage.
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This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 30 October 2024. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.