Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant used to prevent renal transplant rejection, treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. 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.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 3 references
Azathioprine's mechanism of action is not entirely understood but it may be related to inhibition of purine synthesis, along with inhibition of B and T cells.
6-thioguanine triphosphate, a metabolite of azathioprine, modulates activation of rac1 when costimulated with CD28, inducing T cell apoptosis. This may be mediated through rac1's action on mitogen-activated protein kinase, NF-kappaB.
- Primary indication
- Azathioprine is indicated to treat rheumatoid arthritis and prevent renal transplant rejection.Curator reviewed · 10 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C9H7N7O2S · 277.263 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1997 · United States, 1968 · European Union, 2021
- Code names
- BW 57-322 · NSC-39084
- Brand names
Resolves to
LMEKQMALGUDUQG-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESCN1C=NC(=C1SC1=NC=NC2=C1NC=N2)[N+]([O-])=OWhat you can answer from here — as of September 21, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Azathioprine, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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