Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I) are provided having a steroid skeleton and substitution characteristics in the A and B rings of the steroid skeleton effective for mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism, and rings C and D of the steroid skeleton having substituents thereon according to formula (I), wherein R1 is —OH or ?O; R2 is (C1-3)alkyl or (C2-3)alkenyl; R3 is selected from formulas (IIa), (IIb), (IIc). These compounds are useful in the treatment of inter alia aldosteronism, hypokalemia, hypertension, congestive heart failure, heart fibrosis, renal failure and restenosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to 17&bgr;-allyloxy(thio)alkyl-androstane derivatives having general formula (I) wherein R1 is (H, OR), (H, OSO3H) or NOR; with R being H, (C1-6)alkyl or (C1-6)acyl; each of R2 and R3 is independently hydrogen or (C1-6)alkyl; n is 0, 1 or 2; X is O, S, S(O) or S(O)2; each of R4 and R5 is independently hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; each of R6, R7 and R8 is independently hydrogen, phenyl, halogen or (C1-4)alkyl, optionally substituted by hydroxy, (C1-4) alkoxy or halogen; or R7 and R8 together with the carbon atom to which they are bound form a (C3-6)cycloalkane ring; or R6 and R7 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound form a (C5-6) cycloalkene ring; and wherein the dotted lines indicate a &Dgr;7 or a &Dgr;8 double bond, or a pair of conjugated double bonds selected from &Dgr;7,14, &Dgr;8,14 and &Dgr;6,8(14); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of the invention have meiosis activating activity and can be used for the control of fertility.

Abstract: The invention relates to 20-aralkyl-5&agr;-pregnane derivative having general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is (H,OR), (H,OSO3H) or NOR; R is H, (C1-6)alkyl or (C1-6)acyl; each of R2 and R3 is independently hydrogen or (C1-6)alkyl; X is a straight chain divalent C1-8 hydrocarbon radical, optionally comprising a double or a triple bond; or X is —(CH2)m—CR7R8—; m=0-4; at least one of R7 and R8 is (C1-4)alkyl, hydroxy, (C1-4)alkoxy or halogen; the other, if present, being hydrogen; or R7 and R8 together represent O or NOR′; R′ is H, (C1-6)alkyl or (C1-6)acyl; each of R4, R5 and R6 is independently hydrogen, hydroxy, (C1-4)alkoxy, halogen, NR9, R10 or (C1-4)alkyl, optionally substituted by hydroxy, alkoxy, halogen or oxo; each of R9 and R10 is independently hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; and the dotted lines indicate a &Dgr;7 or a &Dgr;8 double bond, or a pair of conjugated double bonds selected from &Dgr;7,14, &Dgr;8,14 and

Abstract: The present invention relates to certain 16-hydroxy-11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, to processes for their preparation, to pharmaceutical formulations containing them and to their use in medicinal therapy, particularly in the treatment or prophylaxis of glucocorticoid dependent diseases or symptoms.