| abstract |
A compound of formula (I), wherein R1 is an optionally protected carboxy(lower)alkyl, R2 is a hydrogen, a lower alkyl or a halogen, R3 is a hydrogen or an optionally substituted lower alkyl, X is a methylene, -O- or -NH-, and R4 is a cycloalkyl, a nitro or a lower alkoxy and R5 is a hydrogen or a lower alkyl, or R?4 and R5¿ are linked together to form a tetramethylene, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compound of the present invention is useful as a testosterone 5α-reductase inhibitor and effective for testosterone 5α-reductase-mediated diseases such as prostatism, prostatic hypertrophy, prostatic cancer, alopecia, hirsutism (e.g. female hirsutism), androgenic alopecia (or male-pattern baldness), acne (e.g. acne vulgaris, pimple), other hyperandrogenisms, and the like. |