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| Clinical data | |
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| Trade names | Esiclene, Hubernol, Metanor |
| Other names | Formyldienolone; 2-Formyl-11α-hydroxy-17α-methyl-δ1-testosterone |
| Routes of administration | Oral |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.017.749 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C21H28O4 |
| Molar mass | 344.451 g·mol−1 |
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Formebolone (INN,BAN) (brand namesEsiclene,Hubernol,Metanor), also known asformyldienolone, as well as2-formyl-11α-hydroxy-17α-methyl-δ1-testosterone, is anorally activeanabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) described as ananticatabolic andanabolicdrug that is or has been marketed inSpain andItaly.[2][3][4] As an AAS, it shows some anabolic activity, though it is inferior totestosterone in terms ofpotency, but is said to have virtually noandrogenic activity.[5] Formebolone counteracts thecatabolic effects (control ofnitrogen balance) of potentglucocorticoids likedexamethasone phosphate.[5][6] A closeanalogue,roxibolone (and its long-actingester variantdecylroxibolone), shows similar antiglucocorticoid activity to formebolone but, in contrast, is devoid of activity as an AAS.[7]
Roxibolone has been found not to bind to theglucocorticoid receptor, and it has been suggested that the antiglucocorticoid activity of roxibolone and formebolone may instead be mediated by modulation ofenzymatic processes.[8] Indeed,11α- and11β-hydroxyprogesterone (formebolone and roxibolone being 11α- and 11β-hydroxylated (respectively) similarly) are known to be potentinhibitors of11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD), which is responsible for thebiosynthesis of the potentendogenous glucocorticoidscortisol andcorticosterone (from theprecursorsdeoxycortisol anddeoxycorticosterone, respectively).[9][10] However, formebolone was found to be a very weak inhibitor of11β-HSD type 2 (IC50 > 10 μM), although this specificisoenzyme of 11β-HSD is responsible for the inactivation of glucocorticoids rather than their production.[11]