Trade names Nestorone, Elcometrine Bioavailability 10% (oral) Molar mass 370.482 g/mol | ATC code None Protein binding Albumin | |
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Legal status In general: ℞ (Prescription only) | ||
Segesterone acetate (brand names Nestorone, Elcometrine) is a steroidal progestin of the 19-norprogesterone group which is used as a hormonal contraceptive and in the treatment of endometriosis in several South American countries.
Contents
Medical uses
Segesterone acetate is used as a hormonal contraceptive and in the treatment of endometriosis.
Pharmacology
Segesterone acetate acts primarily as a high-affinity agonist of the progesterone receptor. It does not bind significantly to the androgen receptor, estrogen receptor, or mineralocorticoid receptor. Segesterone acetate does however have some affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor, where it appears to act as an agonist, but it does not appear to produce any glucocorticoid side effects unless used at high doses.
Pharmacokinetics
Segesterone acetate is only weakly active orally, and is instead given as a subcutaneous implant. It is more than 100-fold times as potent when delivered via this route compared to orally.
Segesterone acetate is bound to albumin. It does not bind to sex hormone-binding globulin.
Chemistry
Segesterone acetate is a norpregnane steroid and synthetic derivative of progesterone and is also known as 16-methylene-17α-acetoxy-19-norprogesterone or as 16-methylene-17α-acetoxy-19-norpregn-4-ene-3,20-dione. In addition to progesterone, segesterone acetate is a combined derivative of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and 19-norprogesterone, and is closely related to gestronol (17α-hydroxy-19-norprogesterone). The drug is the C17α acetate ester of segesterone, which, in contrast, was never marketed, but is a metabolite of segesterone acetate.
History
Segesterone acetate was developed by the Population Council. It has been marketed since at least 2000.
Generic name
Segesterone acetate is the USAN of the drug. It is also known much more commonly by its brand names nestorone (or nestoron) and elcometrine.
Segesterone acetate is also known by its former developmental code names ST-1435, AC-6844, and CS-0411.
Brand names
Segesterone acetate is marketed under the brand names Nestorone and Elcometrine.
Availability
Segesterone acetate is available in several South American countries, including Brazil. It is not available in the United States.