Doxercalciferol, the active ingredient in Hectorol®, is a synthetic vitamin D2 analog that undergoes metabolic activation in vivo to form 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 (1α,25-(OH)2D2), a naturally occurring, biologically active form of vitamin D2. Hectorol is available as a sterile, clear, colorless aqueous solution for intravenous injection.
Hectorol single-use injection is supplied in a stoppered 2 mL amber glass vial containing either 4 mcg/2 mL or 2 mcg/mL. Each vial includes an aluminum seal and yellow (4 mcg/2 mL) or green (2 mcg/mL) flip-off cap. Each milliliter (mL) of solution contains doxercalciferol, 2 mcg; ethanol, 100%, 0.05 mL; Polysorbate 20, 10 mg; sodium chloride, 1.5 mg; butylated hydroxytoluene, 0.02 mg; sodium phosphate dibasic, heptahydrate, 14.4 mg; sodium phosphate monobasic, monohydrate, 1.8 mg; and disodium edetate, 1.1 mg.
Hectorol is also supplied as a multi-dose injection contained within a stoppered 2 mL amber glass vial containing 4 mcg/2 mL. Each vial includes an aluminum seal and an orange plastic flip-off cap. Each milliliter (mL) of solution contains doxercalciferol, 2 mcg; ethanol, 100%, 0.075 mL; Polysorbate 20, 10 mg; sodium chloride, 1.5 mg; butylated hydroxytoluene, 0.02 mg; sodium phosphate dibasic, heptahydrate, 14.4 mg; sodium phosphate monobasic, monohydrate, 1.8 mg; and disodium edetate, 1.1 mg.
Doxercalciferol is a colorless crystalline compound with a calculated molecular weight of 412.66 and a molecular formula of C28H44O2. It is soluble in oils and organic solvents, but is relatively insoluble in water. Chemically, doxercalciferol is (1α,3β,5Z,7E,22E)-9,10-secoergosta-5,7,10(19),22-tetraene-1,3-diol and has the structural formula presented in Figure 1.
Other names frequently used for doxercalciferol are 1α-hydroxyvitamin D2, 1α-OH-D2, and 1α-hydroxyergocalciferol.