Epristeride is a transition-state, noncompetitive
steroid 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor under development by SmithKline Beecham for the treatment of
benign prostatic hyperplasia and
acne. Phase III trials for
prostatic hypertrophy with an oral formulation, have been initiated in the UK, the US and Japan [188478], [219166]. In healthy male volunteers,
epristeride caused a reduction in serum
dihydrotestosterone levels but serum testos-terone levels remained stable. In animal studies, it showed a similar potency to
finasteride for the inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase [164200].
Epristeride is licensed to Ono which has exclusive rights in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Recordati has co-marketing rights for
epristeride [162547], [162519]. Analysts at Yamaichi estimate that
epristeride will be launched in Japan between 1999 and 2000 and peak annual sales have been predicted to be over ten billion Yen [216018].