Azathioprine

Azathioprine

Summary

Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant used to prevent renal transplant rejection, treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Background

Azathioprine is a prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine, first synthesized in 1956 by Gertrude Elion, William Lange, and George Hitchings in an attempt to produce a derivative of 6-mercaptopurine with a better therapeutic index.^9,10,11 Azathioprine is used to treat inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and as an immunosuppressant in the prevention of renal transplant rejection.¹²

Azathiprine was granted FDA approval on 20 March 1968.¹²

Weight Average: 277.263
Monoisotopic: 277.038193193

Chemical Formula: C₉H₇N₇O₂S