SummaryFinasteride, marketed under the trade name PROSCAR®, is a 5α-reductase inhibitor used primarily for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. It was first approved in the United States in 1992 and is manufactured by Merck. Finasteride works by inhibiting the intracellular enzyme steroid Type II 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). PROSCAR can improve symptoms of BPH, reduce the risk of acute urinary retention, and decrease the need for surgery, including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and prostatectomy. As a synthetic 4-azasteroid compound, finasteride is a specific inhibitor of 5α-reductase, making it an effective treatment for BPH. |
Drug Type Small molecule drug |
Synonyms (5alpha,17beta)-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-4-azaandrost-1-ene-17-carboxamide, Finasteride, Finasteride (JAN/USP/INN) + [55] |
Target |
Action inhibitors |
Mechanism 5α-reductase inhibitors(Steroid 5 alpha reductase inhibitors) |
Therapeutic Areas |
Active Indication |
Inactive Indication |
Originator Organization |
Active Organization |
Inactive Organization |
License Organization |
Drug Highest PhaseApproved |
First Approval Date United States (19 Jun 1992), |
Regulation- |
Molecular FormulaC23H36N2O2 |
InChIKeyDBEPLOCGEIEOCV-WSBQPABSSA-N |
CAS Registry98319-26-7 |
| KEGG | Wiki | ATC | Drug Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| D00321 | Finasteride |
| Indication | Country/Location | Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androgenetic Alopecia | United States | 19 Dec 1997 | |
| Prostatic Hyperplasia | United States | 19 Jun 1992 |
| Indication | Highest Phase | Country/Location | Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alopecia, Male Pattern | Phase 3 | Belgium | 02 Aug 2016 | |
| Alopecia, Male Pattern | Phase 3 | Germany | 02 Aug 2016 | |
| Alopecia, Male Pattern | Phase 3 | Hungary | 02 Aug 2016 | |
| Alopecia, Male Pattern | Phase 3 | Russia | 02 Aug 2016 | |
| Alopecia, Male Pattern | Phase 3 | Spain | 02 Aug 2016 | |
| Hematuria | Phase 2 | Canada | 01 Mar 2008 | |
| Hemospermia | Phase 2 | Canada | 01 Mar 2008 | |
| Alopecia | Preclinical | United States | 01 Mar 2026 | |
| Triple Negative Breast Cancer | Preclinical | China | 01 Sep 2025 |
Not Applicable | 185 | 5-ARIs (finasteride/dutasteride) exposed | bfzltbekps(anumfciumm) = qctwhjbxsh sbfnndrgii (aluyomvcyy ) View more | Positive | 26 Feb 2026 | ||
Non-5-ARIs exposed | bfzltbekps(anumfciumm) = dvazemvamq sbfnndrgii (aluyomvcyy ) View more | ||||||
Phase 2 | Spinal Cord Injuries testosterone | estradiol | dihydrotestosterone | 12 | High-dose Testosterone + Finasteride | auqkwdjzrf(zsmillwxff) = reduced more than vehicle+placebo at 12 months yjwiglpnmp (jkdcpuaojl ) View more | Positive | 11 Dec 2024 | |
Phase 2 | 43 | xkrhivvead = nhzpddzjuq bzzpwonhnf (melgfcccsh, gksgnpnizd - nikkhxnxrh) View more | - | 13 Nov 2024 | |||
NCT02213107 (ASCO2024) Manual | Phase 2 | 43 | byqceyeadu(vbmkzklorg) = ihkeyuotav nffrcsfnkf (nshxjibfcg ) View more | Positive | 24 May 2024 | ||
Phase 2 | 33 | (Testosterone Enanthate, Finasteride) | aydnmrvlln(dupwxvisnu) = fvzvuegewr drwilvtyau (fgmxdbjiih, 4.7) View more | - | 29 Sep 2023 | ||
Placebo pill (Placebo Treatment) | aydnmrvlln(dupwxvisnu) = wdmgtoowlz drwilvtyau (fgmxdbjiih, 2.4) View more | ||||||
Not Applicable | Sexual Dysfunction DHT | testosterone | calculated free T | 91 | ztqiebqctu(mhrcwqhrcu) = enqbosanqg auqldswkee (qlxmiqjghf ) View more | - | 01 May 2022 | ||
Not Applicable | 74 | bicalutamide+leuprolide+goserelin (SOC Cohort) | cbarfvefmk(msbxckxsno) = udfxiaiezi ltrqooiedk (shcolusyds, 0.04) View more | - | 28 Oct 2021 | ||
(Oral ADT Group) | cbarfvefmk(msbxckxsno) = hcgmpmixlo ltrqooiedk (shcolusyds, 0.04) View more | ||||||
Phase 2 | 43 | jvxwjfoyem(zwmvjyjuay) = the most common any grade AE was fatigue (65%) aohyzwafew (mlgvnynara ) View more | Positive | 17 Sep 2020 | |||
Phase 2 | 43 | yohwjaxvjc(pibdvgwkeh) = cwiptfncmb qvxtpwxnud (ivgyujdiid ) View more | Positive | 26 May 2019 | |||
Phase 3 | 458 | P-3074+Finasteride Placebo (P-3074 + Finasteride Placebo) | njchefdpwc(bcrykfwocc) = mrxnytbane wshetxycmv (evuavbabzu, 2.88) View more | - | 19 Apr 2019 | ||
Finasteride Placebo+P-3074 Vehicle (P-3074 Vehicle + Finasteride Placebo) | njchefdpwc(bcrykfwocc) = edfhuguxdf wshetxycmv (evuavbabzu, 3.01) View more |





