Azathioprine



![Metabolic pathway for azathioprine (AZA).[57][58] Active metabolites are highlighted.
XO: xanthine oxidase6-MP: 6-mercaptopurineTPMT: thiopurine methyltransferase6-MMP: 6-methylmercaptopurineHPRT: hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferaseTIMP: thioinosine monophosphate, thioinosinic acidMeTIMP: methyl-thioinosine monophosphateTGTP: thioguanosine triphosphateTdGTP: thio-deoxyguanosine triphosphate](/uploads/202412/22/AZA_metabolism.svg4433.png)
Azathioprine (AZA), also known by its brand name Imuran, is an immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases and belongs to the chemical class of purine analogues. Synthesized originally as a cancer drug and a prodrug for mercaptopurine in 1957, it has been widely used as an immunosuppressant for more than 50 years.