mifepristone

Mifepristone Basic Info:

Synonyms: 11-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-17-hydroxy-17-(1-propynyl)-estra-9-dien-3-one;11beta-[4-(n,n-dimethylamino)phenyl]-17alpha-(prop-1-ynyl)-delta4,9-estradiene;17-beta)-(11-bet;17beta)-11-[4-(dimethylamino)-phenyl]-17-hydroxy-17-(1-propynyl)estra-(11bet;17-beta-hydroxy-11-beta-(4-dimethylaminophenyl-1)-17-alpha-(prop-1-ynyl)oest;-17beta-ol-3-one;4,9-dien-3-one;r38486

CAS: 84371-65-3 
MF: C29H35NO2 
MW: 429.59 
Product Categories: Steroids;Hormone;Acetylenes;Biochemistry;Functionalized Acetylenes;Hydroxyketosteroids;Chiral Reagents;Intermediates & Fine Chemicals;Pharmaceuticals;Intracellular receptor;Nuclear Receptors;Steroid and Hormone;API;Hormone Drugs

Mifepristone Description:

Mifepristone (or RU-486) is a synthetic steroid compound with both antiprogesterone and antiglucocorticoid properties. The compound is a 19-nor steroid with substitutions at positions C11 and C17 (17 beta-hydroxy-11 beta-[4-dimethylamino phenyl] 17 alpha-[1-propynyl]estra-4, 9-dien-3-one), which antagonizes cortisol action competitively at the receptor level.
Mifepristone is a progesterone receptor antagonist used as an abortifacient in the first months of pregnancy, and in smaller doses as an emergency contraceptive. It is also a powerful glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and has occasionally been used in refractory Cushing's syndrome (due to ectopic/neoplastic ACTH/cortisol secretion).
Mifepristone was the first antiprogestin to be developed and it has been evaluated extensively for its use as an abortifacient.
 

Mifepristone Application:

Mifepristone can also be used in smaller doses as an emergency contraceptive; If taken after sex but before ovulation, it can prevent ovulation and so prevent pregnancy. In this role, a 10-mg dose is not as effective as the 600-mg dose, but has fewer side effects. Mifeprex and Mifegyne are only available in 200-mg tablets.
A review of studies in humans found that the contraceptive effects of the 10-mg dose were probably due mainly to its effects on ovulation, and not inhibition of implantation, but "the knowledge of the mechanism of action remains incomplete". Treatment with 200 mg of mifepristone changes steroid receptor expression in the Fallopian tube, inhibits endometrial development, and effectively prevents implantation.
Other medical applications of mifepristone studied in clinical trials include regular long-term use as an oral contraceptive, and treatment of HIV infection, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, major depression with psychotic features, bipolar depression and disorders causing cognitive dysfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic multisymptom illness, glaucoma, meningiomas, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer.
 

Mifepristone Specification:

Mifepristone Usage:

Mifeprex is used to end an early pregnancy that is not further along than 49 days (7 weeks) after the first day of your last menstrual period. MIFEPREX MUST NOT BE USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO END PREGNANCY BEYOND 7 WEEKS.

Mifepristone is used alone or in combination with misoprostol (Cytotec) to end an early pregnancy. Early pregnancy means it has been 49 days or less since your last menstrual period began. Mifepristone is in a class of medications called antiprogestational steroids. It works by blocking the activity of progesterone, a substance your body makes to help continue pregnancy.

Mifepristone is also available as another product (Korlym), which is used to control hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in people with a certain type of Cushing's Syndrome in which the body makes too much of the hormone cortisol. This monograph only gives information about mifepristone (Mifeprex), which is used alone or in combination with another medication to end an early pregnancy.

Mifepristone is also sometimes used to end pregnancies when more than 49 days have passed since the woman's last menstrual period; as an emergency contraceptive after unprotected sexual intercourse ('morning-after pill'); to treat tumors of the brain, endometriosis (growth of uterus tissue outside the uterus), or fibroids (noncancerous tumors in the uterus); or to induce labor (to help start the birth process in a pregnant woman). Mifepristone can also be used in smaller doses as an emergency contraceptive; if taken after sex but before ovulation, it can prevent ovulation and so prevent pregnancy. In this role, a 10-mg dose is not as effective as the 600-mg dose, but has fewer side effects.