Gemcitabine Suppliers & Bulk Manufacturers

Available Forms: Injection

Available Strengths: 200 mg, 1 g, 1.4 g, 1.5 g vials

Reference Brands: Gemzar (US/EU)

Category: Oncology Cancer Care

Gemcitabine is used in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, urinary bladder cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Product Description:

Gemcitabine is a deoxycytidine analogue with an unusual property known as self-potentiation: once phosphorylated, it inhibits ribonucleotide reductase, which lowers the pool of natural deoxycytidine competing with it, so the drug drives its own incorporation into DNA. After it is incorporated, one more natural nucleotide is added before synthesis halts, hiding the fault from the repair machinery — a mechanism called masked chain termination.

It is the backbone of pancreatic cancer treatment and is used in non-small cell lung, bladder, ovarian and breast cancer, and in lymphoma salvage regimens. It is given as a thirty-minute infusion, and extending that time increases toxicity without increasing benefit. Myelosuppression is dose-limiting, with thrombocytopenia often the first to appear. A flu-like syndrome, transaminase elevation and peripheral oedema occur. Rare but serious risks include haemolytic uraemic syndrome, pneumonitis and severe radiation recall.

Sourcing notes. Off patent and heavily multi-source, available as lyophilised powder in 200 mg, 1 g and 1.4 g vials and as ready-to-dilute solution. The 1.4 g vial reduces wastage in body-surface-area dosing and is worth specifying. Cytotoxic containment; powder stores at room temperature, solution refrigerated.