| abstract |
Compounds of formula (I):n n[wherein : R 1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl-substituted alkyl or aromatic heterocyclic-substituted alkyl ; R 2 is: aryl-substituted alkyl, aromatic heterocyclic-substituted alkyl or diarylamino; and R 3 is carboxy or a group of formula -CONHS0 2 R 4 wherein R 4 is alkyl] ; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof have valuable 5α-reductase inhibitory activity and can thus be used for the treatment and prophylaxis of, inter alia, prostatic hypertrophy as well as other disorders arising from excess levels of 5α-dihydro-test osterone. |