Finasteride

Summary

Finasteride (CHEMBL710) is an approved small-molecule androgen antagonist (ATC G04CB01) targeting SRD5A2; indicated across 12 conditions including prostate carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

At a glance

• Status: Approved (max clinical phase 4)
• Modality: Small molecule
• ATC class: G04CB01 (+1 more)
• Targets: 1 (SRD5A2)
• Indications: 12 conditions
• Clinical trials: 49
• Chemistry: 372.5 Da · C23H36N2O2

Identifiers

Drug identity and classification

Field	Value
ChEMBL ID	CHEMBL710
Name	Finasteride
Type	Small molecule
Max phase	4
FDA approved	yes
PubChem CID	57363
ChEBI	CHEBI:5062
ATC	G04CB01, D11AX10
Molecular formula	C23H36N2O2
Molecular weight	372.5
InChIKey	DBEPLOCGEIEOCV-WSBQPABSSA-N

SMILES: C[C@]12CC[C@H]3[C@H]([C@@H]1CC[C@@H]2C(=O)NC(C)(C)C)CC[C@@H]4[C@@]3(C=CC(=O)N4)C

IUPAC name: (1S,3aS,3bS,5aR,9aR,9bS,11aS)-N-tert-butyl-9a,11a-dimethyl-7-oxo-1,2,3,3a,3b,4,5,5a,6,9b,10,11-dodecahydroindeno[5,4-f]quinoline-1-carboxamide

ChEBI definition: An aza-steroid that is a synthetic drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Pharmacological roles (ChEBI): androgen antagonist, EC 1.3.1.22 [3-oxo-5α-steroid 4-dehydrogenase (NADP+)] inhibitor, antihyperplasia drug.

Also known as: Aindeem, Finasterida, Finasteride, Finasteride component of entadfi, MK-906, NSC-741485, NSC-759318, Propecia, Proscar, Prostide, finasteride, SID26719811

Patent coverage: 13,981 distinct patent families (51,247 SureChEMBL compound mentions), from 1 matched compound structure(s). Mentions count patents naming the compound (not distinct inventions), so promiscuous / reference molecules inflate the mention figure — families are the dedup metric.

Targets

Targets

Primary targets (GtoPdb curated mechanism): the Cancer dependency column is the DepMap CRISPR fitness signal (% of screened cell lines dependent on the target).

Gene	Target	Action	pAffinity	Cancer dependency	UniProt
SRD5A2	steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2	Inhibition	7.84	0%	P31213

Broader ChEMBL bioactivity targets: 19 (assay-derived). Sample: Nuclear receptor ROR-gamma, Prelamin-A/C, RecQ-like DNA helicase BLM, Thrombopoietin, ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 4, 3-oxo-5-alpha-steroid 4-dehydrogenase 1, 3-oxo-5-alpha-steroid 4-dehydrogenase 2, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Delta 5–>4-isomerase type 1, Steroid 5-alpha-reductase, Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1.

Bioactivity

ChEMBL activities: 75 potent at pChembl ≥ 5 of 86 total. Top 30 by potency (10 = 0.1 nM, 6 = 1 µM):

Target	pChembl	Type	Value	Unit	Activity ID
SRD5A2	9.74	IC50	0.18	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_1136083
SRD5A2	9.74	IC50	0.18	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_19113989
SRD5A2	9.74	IC50	0.18	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_285677
SRD5A2	9.74	IC50	0.18	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_699353
SRD5A2	9.74	IC50	0.18	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_766792
P31214	9.55	IC50	0.28	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_699359
SRD5A2	8.92	IC50	1.2	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_19113970
SRD5A2	8.92	IC50	1.2	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_51694
SRD5A2	8.7	Ki	2	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_1206444
SRD5A2	8.7	IC50	2	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_1504609
SRD5A2	8.66	IC50	2.2	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_508977
BLM	8.55	Potency	2.8	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_4741931
BLM	8.55	Potency	2.8	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_4909938
SRD5A2	8.52	IC50	3	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_523451
SRD5A2	8.52	IC50	3	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_738907
P24008	8.38	IC50	4.2	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_1154773
SRD5A2	8.38	IC50	4.2	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_673164
SRD5A2	8.34	IC50	4.53	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_1110799
SRD5A2	8.3	IC50	5	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_585657
P24008	8.17	Ki	6.8	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_699358
P24008	8.17	IC50	6.8	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_715414
SRD5A2	8.07	IC50	8.5	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_15077679
SRD5A2	8.07	IC50	8.5	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_16393247
SRD5A2	8.07	IC50	8.47	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_253743
SRD5A2	8	IC50	10	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_307543
P24008	8	IC50	10	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_585654
P31214	7.96	IC50	11	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_585655
SRD5A2	7.68	IC50	21	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_1132401
SRD5A2	7.6	IC50	25	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_17687017
SRD5A2	7.6	IC50	25	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_1967586

Target pathways

Aggregated over 1 target gene(s): SRD5A2.

Top Reactome pathways

5 total, by targets touching each:

Pathway	Targets	Genes
Metabolism	1	SRD5A2
Androgen biosynthesis	1	SRD5A2
Metabolism of steroid hormones	1	SRD5A2
Metabolism of lipids	1	SRD5A2
Metabolism of steroids	1	SRD5A2

Dominant GO biological processes

GO term	Targets
androgen biosynthetic process	1
steroid catabolic process	1
cell-cell signaling	1
androgen metabolic process	1
male gonad development	1
response to xenobiotic stimulus	1
biphenyl metabolic process	1
dibenzo-p-dioxin metabolic process	1
phthalate metabolic process	1
hippocampus development	1
hypothalamus development	1
cell differentiation	1
male genitalia development	1
female genitalia development	1
response to nutrient levels	1

Indications & clinical

Indications

12 indications (6 at ChEMBL trial phase 4). Phase below is the highest clinical-trial phase recorded for this drug against each disease — not the molecule’s overall approval status (that is in the Summary).

Indication	Trial phase	MONDO	EFO
prostate carcinoma	4	MONDO:0005159	EFO:0001663
benign prostatic hyperplasia	4	MONDO:0010811	EFO:0000284
androgenetic alopecia	4	MONDO:0005339	EFO:0004191
prostate adenocarcinoma	4	MONDO:0005082	EFO:0000673
alopecia	4	MONDO:0004907	MONDO:0003037
non-small cell lung carcinoma	2	MONDO:0005233	EFO:0003060
retinal disorder	2	MONDO:0005283	EFO:0003839
acne	2	MONDO:0011438	EFO:0003894
hypogonadism	1	MONDO:0002146	MONDO:0002146
hyperplasia	0	MONDO:0005043	EFO:0000536

2 further indication records had no mapped disease name (EFO/MeSH-only) or were duplicates, and are omitted.

Clinical trials

Total trials: 49.

Phase distribution

Phase	Trials
PHASE2	13
PHASE3	11
PHASE1	9
PHASE4	6
Not specified	5
PHASE2/PHASE3	2
PHASE1/PHASE2	2
EARLY_PHASE1	1

Top trials by phase / activity

NCT	Phase	Status	Title
NCT02703220	PHASE4	RECRUITING	Sleep Apnea in Elderly
NCT00130767	PHASE4	UNKNOWN	Kinetics of the Finasteride Prostate Induced Apoptosis
NCT01296672	PHASE4	COMPLETED	3 Month Finasteride Challenge Test Can Significantly Improve the Performance of Screening for Prostate Cancer
NCT01736033	PHASE4	UNKNOWN	Advanced Benefits of Alpha-blocker Monotherapy on Lower Urinary Tracts Symptoms(LUTS) Patients
NCT02244229	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Study to Evaluate the Therapeutic Action of Tamsulosin and Finasteride in Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Patients
NCT02483195	PHASE4	WITHDRAWN	The Use of 5mg Finasteride Versus 200mg Spironolactone and Topical 5% Minoxidil in Treating Postmenopausal Female Androgenetic Alopecia
NCT04594018	PHASE3	RECRUITING	Efficacy and Safety of Finlândia Hair Lotion Association on Androgenetic Alopecia
NCT00021814	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms
NCT00064649	PHASE3	TERMINATED	Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapy for BPH
NCT00542243	PHASE3	COMPLETED	A Trial of PROSCAR (Finasteride) Versus Placebo in Men With an Initial Negative Prostate Biopsy
NCT00564460	PHASE3	WITHDRAWN	On Label, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Preoperative Finasteride in Patients Undergoing Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
NCT01139762	PHASE3	COMPLETED	A Study of Tadalafil Use With Finasteride in Men With Enlarged Prostates and Urinary Symptoms
NCT01231607	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Dutasteride Versus Placebo and Finasteride in Men With Androgenetic Alopecia
NCT01534351	PHASE3	TERMINATED	Comparison of Finasteride and Tamsulosin for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) (MK-0906A-149 AM2)
NCT02548117	PHASE3	WITHDRAWN	H-36731: Finasteride in Management of Elevated Red Blood Cells
NCT03004469	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of P-3074 Topical Solution in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia
NCT04032067	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of GV1001 in Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
NCT05990400	PHASE2/PHASE3	UNKNOWN	Effectiveness and Safety of Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil Combination Compared to Topical Minoxidil for The Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia
NCT06601205	PHASE2/PHASE3	COMPLETED	Finasteride and Flutamide in Pre-surgical Trial in Prostate Cancer.
NCT06826001	PHASE2	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	Various Procedural Treatment Options for Androgenetic Alopecia
NCT06944145	PHASE2	RECRUITING	New Treatment Strategies and Epigenetic Biomarker for Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
NCT00003323	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Hormone Therapy in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer
NCT00438464	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Finasteride in Treating Patients With Stage II Prostate Cancer Who Are Undergoing Surgery
NCT00475501	PHASE2	COMPLETED	5-Alpha Reductase and Anabolic Effects of Testosterone
NCT00600691	PHASE2	TERMINATED	The Use of Finasteride to Reduce Hematuria and Hematospermia Following TRUS Prostate Biopsy
NCT00736645	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Selenomethionine and Finasteride Before Surgery or Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage I or Stage II Prostate Cancer
NCT00759135	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Phase 2 Study of NX-1207 for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) (Enlarged Prostate)
NCT00837252	PHASE1/PHASE2	COMPLETED	Pilot Study for the Evaluation of Finasteride in the Treatment of Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
NCT01227993	PHASE1/PHASE2	COMPLETED	Extension Study for the Evaluation of Finasteride in the Treatment of Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
NCT01585441	PHASE2	TERMINATED	Finasteride for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
NCT01923090	PHASE2	UNKNOWN	Finasteride, Dutasteride and Insulin Action
NCT02248701	PHASE2	TERMINATED	Testosterone Plus Finasteride Treatment After Spinal Cord Injury
NCT02781311	PHASE2	COMPLETED	A Safety and Efficacy Study of Setipiprant Tablets in Androgenetic Alopecia in Males
NCT07076706	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Clinical Trial to Evaluate CG2001 in Chinese Adult Male Participants With Androgenetic Alopecia
NCT00648791	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Fasting Study of Finasteride Tablets 5 mg and Proscar Tablets 5 mg
NCT00650377	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Fed Study of Finasteride Tablets 5 mg and Proscar® Tablets 5 mg
NCT00663793	PHASE1	COMPLETED	ORAL T-6: Oral Androgens in Man-6
NCT01052870	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Association of Polymorphisms in the Androgen Receptor Gene and Finasteride Response in Women With Androgenetic Alopecia
NCT01133444	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Bioequivalence Study of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited, Finasteride Tablets 1 mg Under Fasting Condition
NCT01133457	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Bioequivalence Study of Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories Limited Finasteride Tablets 1 mg Under Fed Condition

Clinical evidence (CIViC)

No CIViC predictive evidence (expected for non-precision-medicine drugs).

Pharmacology

Pharmacogenomics

No CPIC/DPWG dosing guideline or drug-level clinical/variant annotations in PharmGKB for this molecule.

Related molecules

Related molecules

Molecules sharing ≥1 of this drug’s curated primary targets, merged from two biobtree sources and ranked by shared-target count, then clinical phase: ChEMBL clinical-stage candidates (development phase ≥2) and PubChem drug-class bioactivity (approved / known drugs acting on the target). Deduplicated by drug name; the drug’s own salt forms are excluded. Note: for a drug with few primary targets a shared-target match can reflect off-target / promiscuous binding rather than the same therapeutic mechanism — the phase ordering surfaces bona-fide therapeutics first.

7 molecules share ≥1 primary target. Top 7 by shared-target count:

Molecule	Source	Status	Shared targets
GAMOLENIC ACID	ChEMBL	Phase 3	SRD5A2
BEXLOSTERIDE	ChEMBL	Phase 2	SRD5A2
EPRISTERIDE	ChEMBL	Phase 2	SRD5A2
TUROSTERIDE	ChEMBL	Phase 2	SRD5A2
Abiraterone	PubChem	Approved	SRD5A2
Bicalutamide	PubChem	Approved	SRD5A2
Flutamide	PubChem	Approved	SRD5A2