11 DESCRIPTION
Gemcitabine is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor. The chemical name of gemcitabine HCl is 2´-deoxy-2´,2´-difluorocytidine monohydrochloride (β-isomer). The structural formula is as follows:
Gemcitabine HCl is a white to off-white solid with a molecular formula of C9H11F2N3O4 ∙ HCl and a molecular weight of 299.66 g/mol. It is soluble in water, slightly soluble in methanol, and practically insoluble in ethanol and polar organic solvents.
Gemcitabine Injection is a sterile solution in single-dose vials for intravenous use. Each vial contains 200 mg, 1 g, or 2 g of gemcitabine equivalent to 227.7 mg, 1.139 g, or 2.227 g of gemcitabine HCl. Each mL contains 38 mg of gemcitabine free base in Water for Injection equivalent to 43.27 mg of gemcitabine HCl. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may have been added for pH adjustment.