dacogen
Dacogen (Decitabine) is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor used to treat Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
Decitabine · by Otsuka
Available as a generic: Decitabine
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Decitabine
- Drug class
- Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor
- Form
- Injectable
- Strength
- Decitabine 50MG/VIAL **Federal Register Determination That Product was not Discontinued or Withdrawn for Safety or Effectiveness reasons**
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- myelodysplastic syndromes
- Manufacturer
- Otsuka
- FDA application
- NDA021790
- Availability
- Discontinued (per FDA)
Drug class
How this class works, per Gemcitabine — LiverTox, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH).
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
Dosage forms
Injectable
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Dacogen treat?
- Dacogen (Decitabine) may be used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Dacogen work?
- Dacogen is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor. Nucleoside metabolic inhibitors are fake DNA building blocks that fast-dividing cancer cells mistake for the real thing. Once inside, they get incorporated into the cell's DNA and also block enzymes such as ribonucleotide reductase, which together halt DNA copying and cause the cancer cell to die.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Dacogen?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Dacogen. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Dacogen?
- Dacogen is marketed by Otsuka. You can see Otsuka's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Dacogen a brand-name or generic drug?
- Dacogen is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Decitabine. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Decitabine are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Dacogen available over the counter?
- No. Dacogen is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Dacogen come in?
- Dacogen is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Dacogen?
- Dacogen is classified as nucleoside metabolic inhibitor, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Dacogen FDA-registered?
- Dacogen is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021790. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
Information is sourced from public FDA regulatory data. Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
What people report to the FDA about DECITABINE
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 5,466 reports naming DECITABINE — the active ingredient in Dacogen, and the FDA flagged 96% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- febrile neutropenia557 reports
- pneumonia434 reports
- myelosuppression380 reports
- neutropenia377 reports
- pyrexia357 reports
- platelet count decreased341 reports
- fatigue325 reports
- thrombocytopenia303 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean DECITABINE caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 25, 2026.
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