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Azathioprine / 6 Mercaptopurine
Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine are purine analogs that inhibit nucleotide synthesis and suppress T-cell and B-cell proliferation to reduce immune-mediated inflammation.
Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine are purine analogs that inhibit nucleotide synthesis and suppress T-cell and B-cell proliferation to reduce immune-mediated inflammation. Used for Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), Rheumatoid arthritis, Autoimmune hepatitis.
At a glance
| Generic name | Azathioprine / 6 Mercaptopurine |
|---|---|
| Also known as | imurel / purinethol |
| Sponsor | PIBD-Net |
| Drug class | Purine analog immunosuppressant |
| Target | Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Immunology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Both drugs are prodrugs/metabolites that interfere with purine metabolism, leading to decreased synthesis of DNA and RNA in rapidly dividing immune cells. This results in suppression of cell-mediated and humoral immunity, reducing inflammatory responses in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. They are particularly effective at suppressing T-lymphocyte activation and proliferation.
Approved indications
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Organ transplant rejection prevention
Common side effects
- Bone marrow suppression (leukopenia, thrombocytopenia)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hepatotoxicity
- Infection (due to immunosuppression)
- Pancreatitis
- Alopecia
- Rash
Key clinical trials
- Effectiveness of Ozanimod in Patients With Steroid-Dependent Ulcerative Colitis
- An Open-Label Study of Effectiveness of Immunomodulatory Medications for Patients With Relapsing Polychondritis (PHASE2)
- TheRapeutic Effect of Different immunosuppressAnts on Non-Thymoma Ocular Myasthenia Gravis: a Real-world Study
- Determination of the Optimal Treatment Target in Ulcerative Colitis (PHASE4)
- Safety and Efficacy of Everolimus Treatment in Liver Transplantation for Liver Cancer (PHASE4)
- A Randomized Multicenter Study for Isolated Skin Vasculitis (PHASE2)
- Utilization of a Microdevice for Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis (PHASE4)
- Efficacy of Top-down Therapy With Mirikizumab Versus Standard of Care With Azathioprine in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Moderate-to-severe Ulcerative Colitis (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Azathioprine / 6 Mercaptopurine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Azathioprine / 6 Mercaptopurine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- PIBD-Net portfolio CI