17α, 21-dihydroxypregnene esters as antiandrogenic agents
17α,21-Dihydroxypregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione and 17α,21-dihydroxypregna-4-ene-3,20-dione 17 and/or 21 esters of having remarkable antiandrogenic activity, and the processes for the preparation thereof.
1. A method of treating a patient suffering from a condition selected from the group consisting of acne, seborrhea, hirsutism and alopecia, comprising administering to said patient topically or systemically an effective amount of a compound of formula (I)
wherein:
R 1 is hydrogen and R 2 is a C 3 -C 18 acyl group.
2. A method of treating a patient suffering from a condition selected from the group consisting of acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, and alopecia, said method comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of a compound of formula (II)
wherein:
R 1 and R 2 , which can be the same or different, are hydrogen or a C 3 -C 18 acyl group, with the proviso that at least one of R 1 and R 2 is different from hydrogen.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein R 1 is hydrogen and R 2 is propionyl.
4. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are butanoyl.
5. A method of treating a patient suffering from a condition selected from the group consisting of acne, seborrhea, hirsutism and alopecia, comprising administering to said patient topically or systemically an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising as active ingredient a compound of formula (I)
wherein:
R 1 is hydrogen and R 2 is a C 3 -C 18 acyl group, in admixture with an acceptable carrier, wherein said active ingredient is present in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0% by weight.
6. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the compound of formula (II) is administered topically or systemically.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (I) is as defined in claim 1 , wherein R 1 is hydrogen and R 2 is propionate.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (I) is as defined in claim 1 , wherein R 1 is hydrogen and R 2 is butyrate.
9. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the active ingredient is present in an amount of 0.2-0.8% by weight.