Progesterone is a steroid hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle and is crucial for pregnancy.
Nestoron(ST1435; Elcometrine) is a 19-norprogesterone derivative and steroidal progestin which is used as a hormonal contraceptive; a high-affinity agonist of the progesterone receptor. IC50 value:Tareget: progesterone receptorNestorone acts primarily as a high-affinity agonist of the progesterone receptor. It lacks significant affinity for the androgen receptor, and accordingly, does not produce any androgenic or anabolic effects. It does not bind to the estrogen receptor either. Nestorone does however have some affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor, where it appears to act as an agonist, but it does not appear to produce any glucocorticoid side effects unless used at high doses. Nestorone does not bind to sex hormone-binding globulin, and is instead bound to serum albumin.
Drospirenone(Dihydrospirorenone) is a synthetic progestin that is an analog to spironolactone.Target: Progesterone ReceptorDrospirenone is a novel progestin under clinical development that is similar to the natural hormone progesterone, combining potent progestogenic with antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activities. drospirenone was devoid of glucocorticoid activity. Both progestins did not show any antiglucocorticoid action. Furthermore, drospirenone and progesterone both showed considerable antimineralocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity [1]. the pharmacological profile of drospirenone is more closely related to that of the natural hormone progesterone than is that of any other synthetic progestogen in use today. Therefore, drospirenone is anticipated to give rise to a number of additional health benefits both for users of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy recipients [2]. The combination of 17beta-estradiol and drospirenone has a positive effect on BMD and a potentially beneficial effect on lipids. Although endometrial thickness increased slightly, the safety of the endometrium was assured, as no cases of hyperplasia or cancer occurred [3].Clinical indications: Acne; Dysmenorrhea; Endometriosis; Female contraception; Folic acid deficiency; Premenstrual syndrome
Tibolone is a broad spectrum gonadal steroid agonist with progestagenic, androgenic, and estrogenic activities. Tibolone can be used for postmenopausal osteoporosis research[1][2].
Gestodene(SHB 331;WL 70) is a progestogen hormonal contraceptive.Target: Estrogen Receptor/ERRGestodene is androgenically neutral, meaning that contraceptive pills containing gestodene do not exhibit the androgenic side effects (e.g. acne, hirsutism, weight gain) often associated with second-generation contraceptive pills, such as those containing levonorgestrel. When 40 micrograms of gestodene was taken, six out of seven women did not ovulate, and one out of seven had a cycle with luteal insufficiency. These data indicate that 40 micrograms of gestodene is the borderline dose for inhibition of ovulation. A combination of 75 micrograms gestodene with 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol was found to inhibit ovulation in ten subjects, and no follicular maturation was noted [1]. gestodene bound with high affinity to the progesterone receptor, as did other synthetic and natural progestogens. However, gestodene did not bind to the estradiol receptor. The relative binding affinities of all tested synthetic and natural ligands showed no organ-specific differences and no differences between neoplastically transformed and normal tissues [2].Clinical indications: Female contraception
Levonorgestrel is a synthetic progestogen used as an active ingredient in some hormonal contraceptives.Target: Progesterone ReceptorA synthetic progestational hormone with actions similar to those of progesterone and about twice as potent as its racemic or (+-)-isomer (norgestrel). It is used for contraception, control of menstrual disorders, and treatment of endometriosis. It is usually supplied in a racemic mixture (Norgestrel, 6533-00-2). Only the levonorgestrel isomer is active. Levonorgestrel is marketed mostly as a combination oral contraceptive under several brand names such as Alesse, Triphasil, and Min-Ovral [1].
Altrenogest(A35957; RU2267) is a progestogen structurally related to veterinary steroid trenbolone.Target: Progesterone ReceptorAltrenogest is a progestogen structurally related to veterinary steroid trenbolone. Treatment of embryo-recipient mares with altrenogest appears to be beneficial in extending the degree of donor-recipient synchrony required for successful embryo transfer. Altrenogest treatment also seems to be conductive to pregnancy maintenance in recipients experiencing luteal dysfunction [1]. The oil and gel altrenogest preparations are equally effective in modulating estrous behavior and time to estrus and ovulation. Altrenogest treatment started late in diestrus appears to result in a high incidence of ovulation during treatment and when luteolysis and ovulation occur during treatment; the subsequent luteal phase is frequently prolonged due to failure of regression of the CL [2].
Dydrogesterone(Duphaston) is a potent, orally active progestogen indicated in a wide variety of gynaecological conditions related to progesterone deficiency.IC50 value:Target: Progesterone ReceptorDydrogesterone is a potent, orally active progestogen indicated in a wide variety of gynaecological conditions related to progesterone deficiency. Although similar in molecular structure and pharmacological effects to endogenous progesterone. It is orally active at far lower doses. Its freedom from estrogenic, androgenic, anabolic, corticoid and other undesirable hormonal effects gives it additional benefits over most other synthetic progestogens.Dydrogesterone has also been registered as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to counteract the negative effects of unopposed estrogen on the endometrium in women with an intact uterus. Dydrogesterone is relatively safe and well tolerated, and does not exhibit the androgenic side effects that are common with some other progestins, like medroxyprogesterone.
Tanaproget(NSP989) is a novel nonsteroidal progesterone receptor agonist which can bind to the PR from various species with a higher relative affinity than reference steroidal progestins.IC50 value: 0.1 nM (EC50, induce alkaline phosphatase activity) [1]Target: progesterone receptorTanaproget represents a potential first-in-class nonsteroidal PR agonist for contraception with improved safety and side effect profiles versus currently available steroidal oral contraceptives.in vitro: In T47D cells, TNPR induces alkaline phosphatase activity with an EC(50) value of 0.1 nm, comparable with potent steroidal progestins such as medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and trimegestone (TMG), albeit with a reduced efficacy ( approximately 60%). In a mammalian two-hybrid assay to measure PR agonist-induced interaction between steroid receptor co-activator-1 and PR, TNPR showed similar potency (EC(50) value of 0.02 nm) and efficacy to MPA and TMG [1].in vivo: TNPR effectively down-regulated MMP expression in vitro and induced significant reduction of lesions in mice with disease established by tissues from endometriosis patients [2]. The maximum concentration (C(max)) of tanaproget occurred approximately 2 to 3 h after administration. The elimination half-life (t(1/2)) ranged from 12 to 30 h, and the oral clearance was approximately 70 L/h. The pharmacokinetics of tanaproget was not noticeably altered with a high-fat meal [3].Toxicity: All doses of tanaproget decreased cervical mucus scores (using a modified Insler method), indicating poor production and poor quality of cervical mucus. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events were vaginal bleeding/spotting, abdominal cramping and vomiting; their incidence was not dose related and most events were mild [3].
Dienogest(STS-557) is a specific progesterone receptor agonist with potent oral endometrial activity and is used in the treatment of endometriosis. Target: progesterone receptor agonistDienogest is an orally active synthetic progesterone (or progestin). It is available for use as an oral contraceptive in combination with ethinylestradiol. It has antiandrogenic activity and as a result can improve androgenic symptoms. It is a non-ethinylated progestin which is structurally related to testosterone [1]. Complete sperm suppression was observed in rats sacrificed either 60 or 90 days after dienogest (DNG)+ testosterone undecanoate (TU) administration, for two injections at 45-day interval. The neutral α-glucosidase activity in these treated rats remained in the normal range. Germ cell loss due to apoptosis was frequently observed both after 60 or 90 days of combination treatment. Significant decline in serum gonadotropin and testosterone, both serum and intratesticular levels, were observed in the treated rats. Following stoppage of treatment (given at 45-day interval) after two (0 and 45 days) or three injections (0, 45 and 90 days), complete restoration of spermatogenesis was observed by 120 and 165 days, respectively [2].Clinical indications: Adenomyosis; EndometriosisFDA Approved Date: 1995 Toxicity: weight gain; increased blood pressure; breast tenderness and nausea
Gestonorone Capronate is a progestin for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy and endometrial cancer.
Norgestimate D6 is the deuterium labeled Norgestimate. Norgestimate, a synthetic progesterone analog, is an orally active progestin with highly selective progestational activity and minimal androgenicity. Norgestimate is used for an oral contraceptive[1][2].
Medroxyprogesterone acetate is a progestin, a synthetic variant of the human hormone progesterone and a potent progesterone receptor agonist.Target: Progesterone ReceptorMedroxyprogesterone acetate(MPA) is a steroidal progestin, a synthetic variant of the human hormone progesterone. It is used as a contraceptive, in hormone replacement therapy and for the treatment of endometriosis as well as several other indications. MPA is a more potent derivative of its parent compound medroxyprogesterone (MP). While medroxyprogesterone is sometimes used as a synonym for medroxyprogesterone acetate, what is normally being administered is MPA and not MP [1, 2].