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💡 What’s in this blog?

What are Azacitidine and Decitabine?
How they work in treating Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
Key similarities and differences
Effectiveness and side effects
Top brands available in India
How to buy Azacitidine and Decitabine in bulk or single packs
Why Unnati Pharmax is a trusted global oncology supplier

🧬 Introduction

For patients diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), treatment often begins with two cornerstone drugs — Azacitidine and Decitabine. These medicines are hypomethylating agents (HMAs) that help improve bone marrow function and slow disease progression.

Both drugs work to restore normal blood cell production, improve quality of life, and, in many cases, delay the transformation of MDS into acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

But how do they differ? Which one is more effective? And how can hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies source them safely and affordably?
Let’s explore each in depth.

⚗️ What is Azacitidine?

Azacitidine (brand names: Vidaza, Azadine, Azacit, Cytodine) is a pyrimidine nucleoside analog that gets incorporated into DNA and RNA, helping reprogram abnormal bone marrow cells.

Mechanism of Action:

Azacitidine inhibits DNA methyltransferase, reducing abnormal methylation and allowing genes responsible for normal cell growth to reactivate. This leads to healthier blood formation.

Approved Uses:

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)

Dosage:

Typical starting dose: 75 mg/m² daily for 7 days, repeated every 28 days.
It can be administered subcutaneously or intravenously.

⚗️ What is Decitabine?

Decitabine (brand names: Dacogen, Decitax, Decitas, Decitabine Natco) is another DNA methyltransferase inhibitor with a similar mechanism to Azacitidine — but slightly different pharmacokinetics.

Mechanism of Action:

Decitabine integrates directly into DNA (not RNA like Azacitidine) and triggers DNA hypomethylation, which promotes normal differentiation and growth of bone marrow cells.

Approved Uses:

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Investigational use in chronic leukemias and solid tumors

Dosage:

Typical regimen: 20 mg/m² IV for 5 days every 4 weeks.
Treatment cycles continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

⚖️ Azacitidine vs. Decitabine: A Detailed Comparison

Parameter	Azacitidine	Decitabine
Drug Class	DNA methylation inhibitor	DNA methylation inhibitor
Mechanism	Acts on both DNA and RNA	Acts only on DNA
Route	Subcutaneous or IV	Intravenous only
Cycle Duration	7-day treatment every 28 days	5-day treatment every 28 days
Main Indication	MDS, AML, CMML	MDS, AML
Response Rate	50–60%	40–50%
Overall Survival (OS)	Slightly longer	Slightly faster initial response
Convenience	Flexible dosing routes	Easier administration for hospitals
Common Side Effects	Nausea, fatigue, low platelets	Neutropenia, anemia, infections

Both drugs are considered equally effective, with treatment choice often based on patient tolerance, dosing schedule, and hospital protocol.

💊 Common Side Effects

Azacitidine:

Nausea and vomiting
Injection site redness
Fatigue
Low blood counts (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia)

Decitabine:

Fever and infections due to low white cells
Fatigue
Nausea
Bleeding tendency

Supportive care with antibiotics, blood transfusions, and growth factors is often used during treatment.

🌍 Popular Brands in India

Medicine	Brand Name	Manufacturer	Form
Azacitidine	Azadine	Intas Pharma	Injection (100 mg)
	Vidaza	Celgene	Injection (100 mg)
	Azacit	Natco Pharma	Injection (100 mg)
Decitabine	Dacogen	Janssen	Injection (50 mg)
	Decitax	Dr. Reddy’s	Injection (50 mg)
	Decitas	Natco Pharma	Injection (50 mg)

All of these formulations are available with Unnati Pharmax for bulk supply and retail distribution.

🏥 How to Choose Between Azacitidine and Decitabine

If You Need	Go For
Easier injection option (IV or SC)	Azacitidine
Shorter cycle (5 days)	Decitabine
Slightly better long-term survival	Azacitidine
Faster initial hematologic improvement	Decitabine
Patient preference for home injection	Azacitidine

Your doctor will choose based on your blood counts, performance status, and prior treatments.

🧾 How to Buy Azacitidine or Decitabine (Bulk & Retail)

You can order Azacitidine and Decitabine through Unnati Pharmax, India’s trusted oncology exporter.

We supply:

💉 100% original and WHO-GMP-certified oncology injectables
🌎 Global export support (Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East)
🏢 Bulk supply to hospitals, tender distributors, and pharmacies
👩‍⚕️ Single vials for patient-specific use

🔗 Buy now or request a bulk quote:
👉 www.unnatipharmax.com
📧 info@unnatipharmax.com

🌐 Why Choose Unnati Pharmax?

At Unnati Pharmax, we specialize in the export and supply of oncology, antiviral, nephrology, and immunosuppressant medicines.

Our benefits:

Licensed pharmaceutical exporter (India)
Competitive wholesale pricing
Cold-chain shipment with full regulatory documentation
24/7 support for bulk orders and tenders

We ensure timely global delivery of quality-assured oncology medicines.

🔗 External References

🧭 Conclusion

Both Azacitidine and Decitabine are revolutionary drugs in the treatment of MDS and AML. While they share similar mechanisms, their differences in dosing and administration make each suitable for specific patient types.

Whether you are a hospital, distributor, or individual patient, sourcing authentic, affordable, and regulatory-approved oncology medicines is critical — and Unnati Pharmax is your trusted partner for that.