Bromoketoprogesterone (BKP), also known as 9α-bromo-11-oxoprogesterone (BOP), and known by the tentative brand name Braxarone ( Squibb), is an orally active

progestin A progestogen, also referred to as a progestagen, gestagen, or gestogen, is a type of medication which produces effects similar to those of the natural product, natural female sex hormone progesterone in the body. A progestin is a ''synthetic co ...

which does not appear to have been marketed.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Whereas 11-ketoprogesterone and

11β-hydroxyprogesterone 11β-Hydroxyprogesterone (11β-OHP), also known as 21-deoxycorticosterone, as well as 11β-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, is a naturally occurring, endogenous steroid and derivative of progesterone. It is a potent mineralocorticoid. Syntheses of 1 ...

are virtually devoid of

progestogen Progestogens, also sometimes written progestagens or gestagens, are a class of natural or synthetic steroid hormones that bind to and activate the progesterone receptors (PR). Progesterone is the major and most important progestogen in the body. ...

ic activity (although 11β-hydroxyprogesterone has been reported to possess about 1% of the progestogenic activity of progesterone), the progestogenic activity of BKP is restored and is in fact relatively high. In contrast, 9α-fluoro-11β-hydroxyprogesterone has much lower progestogenic activity with only about 8 times that of 11β-hydroxyprogesterone. In addition, whereas 9α-fluoro-11β-hydroxyprogesterone has pronounced

mineralocorticoid Mineralocorticoids are a class of corticosteroids, which in turn are a class of steroid hormones. Mineralocorticoids are produced in the adrenal cortex and influence salt and water balances (electrolyte balance and fluid balance). The primary mi ...

effects, BKP lacks such effects. BKP has been described as a weaker progestogen. It has been used at doses of as much as 300 mg orally per day. In addition to its activity as a progestogen, BKP has

glucocorticoid Glucocorticoids (or, less commonly, glucocorticosteroids) are a class of corticosteroids, which are a class of steroid hormones. Glucocorticoids are corticosteroids that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor that is present in almost every vertebr ...

activity.

Pharmacokinetics

The

pharmacokinetics Pharmacokinetics (from Ancient Greek ''pharmakon'' "drug" and ''kinetikos'' "moving, putting in motion"; see chemical kinetics), sometimes abbreviated as PK, is a branch of pharmacology dedicated to determining the fate of substances administered ...

of BKP have been reviewed.

Chemistry

Synthesis

Chemical syntheses As a topic of chemistry, chemical synthesis (or combination) is the artificial execution of chemical reactions to obtain one or several products. This occurs by physical and chemical manipulations usually involving one or more reactions. In moder ...

of BKP have been published.

History

It was developed in the 1950s and, along with the

testosterone Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondar ...

derivatives

ethisterone Ethisterone, also known as ethinyltestosterone, pregneninolone, and anhydrohydroxyprogesterone and formerly sold under the brand names Proluton C and Pranone among others, is a progestin medication which was used in the treatment of gynecologica ...

norethisterone Norethisterone, also known as norethindrone and sold under many brand names, is a progestin medication used in birth control pills, menopausal hormone therapy, and for the treatment of gynecological disorders. The medication is available in both ...

normethandrone Normethandrone, also known as methylestrenolone or methylnortestosterone and sold under the brand name Metalutin among others, is a progestin and androgen/anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which is used in combination with an estrogen in the tre ...

, and

norethandrolone Norethandrolone, sold under the brand names Nilevar and Pronabol among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which has been used to promote muscle growth and to treat severe burns, physical trauma, and aplastic anemia but h ...

and the

progesterone Progesterone (P4) is an endogenous steroid and progestogen sex hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis of humans and other species. It belongs to a group of steroid hormones called the progestogens and is the m ...

derivative hydroxyprogesterone acetate, was one of the first orally active

s to be developed. Similarly to various other progestogens, BKP has been studied in the treatment of

breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a re ...

in women. Evaluated in 1959, it was the first oral progestin to be found effective in the treatment of breast cancer. It induced regression in 20% of women with advanced breast cancer at a dosage of 300 mg/day orally.

References

{{Progesterone receptor modulators Abandoned drugs Glucocorticoids Hormonal antineoplastic drugs Organobromides Pregnanes Progestogens Triketones