Abstract: A method of using a specified active ingredient for treating alopecia, female hirsutism and seborrhea and for preventing bone metastasis caused by prostatic cancer. The specified active ingredient is a compound (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable (i) salt, (ii) ester or (iii) hydrate thereof. R1, R2: hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, a protected hydroxyl group or a lower alkoxy group.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## ?wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl-substituted alkyl or aromatic heterocyclic-substituted alkyl; R.sup.2 is: aryl-substituted alkyl, aromatic heterocyclic-substituted alkyl or diarylamino; and R.sup.3 is carboxy or a group of formula --CONHSO.sub.2 R.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl!; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof have valuable 5.alpha.-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 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## ?wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl-substituted alkyl or aromatic heterocyclic-substituted alkyl; R.sup.2 is: aryl-substituted alkyl, aromatic heterocyclic-substituted alkyl or diarylamino; and R.sup.3 is carboxy or a group of formula --CONHSO.sub.2 R.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl!; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof have valuable 5.alpha.-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 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone.

Abstract: The invented compound ##STR1## is useful for the production of steroidal-17-amides that have 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitory activity.

Abstract: The invention includes compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl-substituted alkyl or aromatic heterocyclic-substituted alkyl; R.sup.2 is aryl-substituted alkyl, aromatic heterocyclic-substituted alkyl or diarylamino; and R.sup.3 is carboxy or a group of formula --CONHSO.sub.2 R.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters of the compounds. The compounds have valuable 5.alpha.-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 5.alpha.-dihydro-testosterone.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## (in which: R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted alkyl group, an aryl-substituted alkyl group or a heterocyclic-substituted alkyl group; R.sup.2 is an aryl-substituted alkyl group, a heterocyclic-substituted alkyl group or a diarylamino group; R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted alkyl group, an aryl-substituted alkyl group or an alkenyl group having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; and each of the bonds represented by .alpha.-.beta. and .gamma.-.delta. is a carbon-carbon single bond or a carbon-carbon double bond;) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof are useful for the treatment and prophylaxis of prostatic hypertrophy. We also provide processes for their preparation.