Azakem 100mg Injection is used for treating adults with Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) if they are considered ineligible for stem cell transplant. In Myelodysplastic Syndrome, the bone marrow does not produce healthy blood cells due to its lack of function. Acute Myeloid Leukemia is a type of bone marrow cancer that is caused by the release of incompletely formed blood cells into the bloodstream.

• Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia with 20-30% blasts in patients who are not eligible for Haemopoietic stem cell transplant
• Intermediate-2 and High-risk Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

In MDS and AML, the development of tumor cells is caused by the process of transcriptional repression of various genes, which is due to hypermethylation of DNA. Transcriptional repression is a process where proteins bind directly or indirectly to DNA and control the activity of copying a specific gene or a set of genes. The active form of Azakem 100mg Injection binds to RNA and DNA, interrupts their activity in actively multiplying cells and exhibits a toxic effect on cancer cells.

Inform your doctor about any prescribed medications, over-the-counter medicines, nutritional and vitamin supplements, and herbal products you take or have taken before the treatment. Certain medications may interact with Azakem 100 mg injection and cause undesirable side effects.

• Store at room temperature (15-30°C). 
• If the product is reconstituted, it must be used immediately; if not, store it at 2-8°C for not more than 8 hours. 
• Keep the injection out of sight and reach of children.

Take Azakem 100mg Injection only under the supervision of your physician. Your physician will decide the dose based on your height, weight, and general condition. Azakem 100mg Injection shall be given under the skin of your thigh, stomach or upper arm.

Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all drugs cause side effects, not everyone gets them.

Serious:

• Unexpected bleeding, with blood in stool and urine
• Fever
• Pneumonia, characterized by chest pain or breathlessness.
• Allergic reaction with symptoms of swelling of lips, itching or rashes.
• Seizures, loss of consciousness, severe headache or bleeding in the brain
• Frequent urination with pain or burning sensation

Common:

• Disturbances in the blood count (RBC, WBC, Platelets)
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Constipation
• Tiredness
• Skin reactions like redness and pain at the site of injection
• Decreased appetite
• Dizziness
• Pain in extremities
• Joint pain
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Sore nose and throat
• Rashes and bruising

Inform the doctor if the patient has any allergy reactions, respiratory problems, kidney, liver, or heart problems, and medication taken for different medical conditions before taking this injection as they worsen the condition. Avoid using this injection if the patient is planning for pregnancy or during pregnancy and in breastfeeding mothers as this medicine causes harmful effects on the developing baby. Take this injection only under the supervision of the physician. Doctors will decide the dose based on the patient's height, weight, and general condition. It is administered under the skin of your thigh, stomach, or upper arm.

1. K. Gaston and P.-S. Jayaraman, Transcriptional repression in eukaryotes: Repressors and repression mechanisms, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, [May 2003], 60(4):721-741, [Accessed on 5th Apr 2021] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7094896_Transcriptional_repression_in_eukaryotes_Repressors_and_repression_mechanisms
2. Roman M. Shapiro & Alejandro Lazo-Langner, Systematic review of azacitidine regimens in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia, BMC Hematology, 2018 [Accessed on 3rd Apr 2021] https://bmchematol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12878-017-0094-8
3. Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories, [Revised on 8th Nov 2018] [Accessed on 5th Apr 2021] https://www.drreddys.com/media/743001/ac-pm-english.pdf