Azatend 300mg Tablet (Azacitidine)

Azatend 300mg Tablet contains azacitidine 300 mg, a hypomethylating agent used for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and selected acute myeloid leukemia (AML) settings. At lower concentrations it inhibits DNA methyltransferases and can restore expression of genes involved in normal maturation; at higher intracellular exposure it also causes direct cytotoxicity. Azacitidine 300mg tablets are taken orally in repeated 28-day cycles. It is not interchangeable with injectable azacitidine products, which have different pharmacokinetics and indications.

Azacitidine 300mg tablets are indicated for multiple MDS subtypes and is used in AML, particularly in older/unfit patients and is used as maintenance therapy for patients who have achieved complete remission after initial therapy. Disease classification, cytogenetic/molecular risk, transplant eligibility, prior therapy, and blood counts guide treatment. Clinical benefit often requires several cycles, so early cytopenias do not necessarily mean treatment failure.

Azacitidine 300mg tablets are incorporated into DNA and RNA. In DNA, it traps DNA methyltransferases and reduces abnormal hypermethylation, while incorporation into RNA and direct cytotoxic effects also contribute to killing abnormal marrow cells.

QUAZAR AML-001: Azacitidine 300mg tablets significantly improved overall survival and relapse-free survival as maintenance therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

VIALE-A: Azacitidine plus venetoclax improved survival and remission outcomes versus azacitidine 300mg tablet alone in treatment-naïve AML patients ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.

Just like any other medication, the Azatend 300mg tablet is also associated with some side effects. Most of the side effects are minor and usually go away within some time. Here are some of the symptoms, including:
Common side effects

• Nausea/vomiting
  
• Fatigue
  
• Constipation/diarrhea
  
• Neutropenia
  
• Thrombocytopenia
  
• Anemia
  

Serious side effects

• Severe infection/sepsis
  
• Severe cytopenias/bleeding
  
• Renal toxicity
  
• Tumor lysis syndrome in combination regimens
  
• Severe hepatic toxicity in susceptible patients
  

Important: Dose and regimen must be prescribed by the treating specialist. Tablet strength is not necessarily the patient dose. Do not start, stop, split, combine, or substitute treatment based on website information.

If a scheduled tablet is missed, contact the hematology clinic. Do not add an unscheduled dose. The team will decide how to preserve the cycle while considering blood counts and infection.

• CBC before and during cycles
  
• Renal/liver function
  
• Infection/bleeding signs
  
• Electrolytes/tumour lysis markers in high-risk AML combinations
  
• Bone-marrow response after adequate treatment exposure
  
  

• Current injectable azacitidine prescribing information (Vidaza/reference). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/050974s034lbl.pdf​
  
• Fenaux P, et al. AZA-001. Lancet Oncology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19230772/​
  
• DiNardo CD, et al. VIALE-A. New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2012971​
  
• Current NCCN/ELN MDS and AML guidelines. https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=1&id=1411​
  
• Haematologica. Azacitidine for MDS and CMMl. https://haematologica.org/article/view/13411​