PROPECIA (finasteride, MSD) is a synthetic 4-azasteroid compound that is a specific inhibitor of Type II 5α-reductase, an intracellular enzyme that metabolizes the androgen testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Finasteride is a competitive and specific inhibitor of Type II 5α-reductase. Finasteride has no affinity for the androgen receptor and has no androgenic, antiandrogenic, estrogenic, antiestrogenic, or progestational effects. Inhibition of this enzyme blocks the peripheral conversion of testosterone to the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), resulting in significant decreases in serum and tissue DHT concentrations. Circulating levels of testosterone were increased by approximately 10-15% compared with placebo, yet remained within the physiologic range.
Finasteride produces a rapid reduction in serum DHT concentration, reaching significant suppression within 24 hours of dosing.
Hair follicles contain Type II 5α-reductase. In men with male pattern hair loss, the balding scalp contains miniaturized hair follicles and increased amounts of DHT. Administration of finasteride decreases scalp and serum DHT concentrations in these men. Men with a genetic deficiency of Type II 5α-reductase do not suffer from male pattern hair loss. These data and the results of the clinical studies confirm that finasteride inhibits the process responsible for miniaturization of the scalp hair follicles, leading to reversal of the balding process.
The efficacy of PROPECIA was demonstrated in three studies in 1879 men 18 to 41 years of age with mild to moderate, but not complete, vertex and frontal/mid-area hair loss. In these studies, hair growth was assessed using four separate measures including hair count, rating of photographs of the head by an expert panel of dermatologists, investigator assessment, and patient self-assessment.
In the two studies in men with vertex hair loss, treatment with PROPECIA was continued for 5 years, during which time patients improved compared to both baseline and placebo beginning as early as 3 months. Treatment with PROPECIA for 5 years resulted in stabilization of hair loss in 90% of men based on photographic assessment and in 93% based on investigator assessment. In addition, increased hair growth was reported in 65% of men treated with PROPECIA based on hair counts (vs 0% of the placebo group), in 48% based on photographic assessment (vs 6% of the placebo group), and in 77% based on investigator assessment (vs 15% of the placebo group). In contrast, in the placebo group, gradual hair loss over time was observed in 100% of men based on hair counts (vs 35% of men treated with PROPECIA), in 75% based on photographic assessment (vs 10% of men treated with PROPECIA), and in 38% based on investigator assessment (vs 7% of men treated with PROPECIA). In addition, patient self-assessment demonstrated significant increases in hair density, decreases in hair loss, and improvement in appearance of hair over 5 years of treatment with PROPECIA. While hair improvement measures compared to baseline were greatest in men treated with PROPECIA at 2 years and gradually declined thereafter (e.g., increase of 88 hairs in a representative 5.1 cm2 area at 2 years and increase of 38 hairs at 5 years), hair loss in the placebo group progressively worsened compared to baseline (decrease of 50 hairs at 2 years and 239 hairs at 5 years). Thus, based on all four measures, the difference between treatment groups continued to increase throughout the 5 years of the studies.
The 12-month study in men with frontal/mid-area hair loss also demonstrated significant improvements in scalp hair growth and appearance as evaluated by the same measures as those described previously.
A 48-week, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the effect of PROPECIA on the phases of the hair-growth cycle (growing phase [anagen] and resting phase [telogen]) in vertex baldness enrolled 212 men with androgenetic alopecia. At baseline and 48 weeks, total, telogen, and anagen hair counts were obtained in a 1-cm2 target area of the scalp. Treatment with PROPECIA led to improvements in anagen hair counts, while men in the placebo group lost anagen hair. At 48 weeks, men treated with PROPECIA showed net increases in total and anagen hair counts of 17 hairs and 27 hairs, respectively, compared to placebo. This increase in anagen hair count, compared to total hair count, led to a net improvement in the anagen-to-telogen ratio of 47% at 48 weeks for men treated with PROPECIA, compared to placebo. These data provide direct evidence that treatment with PROPECIA promotes the conversion of hair follicles into the actively growing phase.
In summary, these studies demonstrated that treatment with PROPECIA increases hair growth and prevents further hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia.
Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Relative to an intravenous reference dose, the oral bioavailability of finasteride is approximately 80%. The bioavailability is not affected by food. Maximum finasteride plasma concentrations are reached approximately 2 hours after dosing and the absorption is complete after 6-8 hours.
Distribution: Protein binding is approximately 93%. The volume of distribution of finasteride is approximately 76 liters.
At steady state following dosing with 1 mg/day, maximum finasteride plasma concentration averaged 9.2 ng/mL and was reached 1-2 hours postdose; AUC (0-24 hr) was 53 ng·hr/mL.
Finasteride has been recovered in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but the drug does not appear to concentrate preferentially to the CSF. A very small amount of finasteride has also been detected in the seminal fluid of subjects receiving finasteride.
Biotransformation: Finasteride is metabolized primarily via the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme subfamily. Following an oral dose of 14C-finasteride in man, two metabolites of finasteride were identified that possess only a small fraction of the 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of finasteride.
Elimination: Following an oral dose of 14C-finasteride in man, 39% of the dose was excreted in the urine in the form of metabolites (virtually no unchanged drug was excreted in the urine) and 57% of total dose was excreted in the feces.
Plasma clearance is approximately 165 mL/min.
The elimination rate of finasteride decreases somewhat with age. Mean terminal half-life is approximately 5-6 hours in men 18-60 years of age and 8 hours in men older than 70 years of age. These findings are of no clinical significance and hence, a reduction in dosage in the elderly is not warranted.
Characteristics in Patients: No adjustment in dosage is necessary in nondialyzed patients with renal impairment.
Toxicology: Animal Toxicology: Acute Toxicity: The oral LD50 of finasteride in male and female mice is approximately 500 mg/kg. The oral LD50 of finasteride in female and male rats is approximately 400 and 1,000 mg/kg, respectively.
Chronic Toxicity: Repeated oral toxicity studies up to 1 year were done in rats and dogs given high doses of finasteride up to 80 mg/kg/day (4,000 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day). In rats, increased incidence of testicular Leydig cell hyperplasia at doses ≥40 mg/kg/day (≥2,000 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day) was observed in the 1-year study (see Carcinogenicity as follows). There were no findings in the chronic toxicity studies that would preclude use of finasteride for the treatment of men with male pattern hair loss.
Carcinogenicity: No evidence of a tumorigenic effect was observed in a 24-month study in rats receiving doses of finasteride up to 320 mg/kg/day (16,000 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day).
In a 19-month carcinogenicity study in mice, a statistically significant (p≤0.05) increase in the incidence of testicular Leydig cell adenoma was observed at a dose of 250 mg/kg/day (12,500 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day); no adenomas were seen in mice given 2.5 or 25 mg/kg/day (125 and 1,250 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day, respectively).
In mice at a dose of 25 mg/kg/day and in rats at a dose of ≥40 mg/kg/day (1,250 and ≥2,000 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day, respectively), an increase in the incidence of Leydig cell hyperplasia was observed.
A positive correlation between the proliferative changes of the Leydig cells and the increase in serum LH levels (2-3 fold above control) has been demonstrated in both rodent species treated with high doses of finasteride. This suggests the Leydig cell changes are secondary to elevated serum LH levels and not due to a direct effect of finasteride.
No drug-related Leydig cell changes were seen in either rats or dogs treated with finasteride for one year at doses of 20 mg/kg/day and 45 mg/kg/day (1,000 and 2,250 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day, respectively) or in mice treated for 19 months at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day (125 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day).
Mutagenesis: No evidence of mutagenicity was observed in an in vitro bacterial mutagenesis assay, a mammalian cell mutagenesis assay, or in an in vitro alkaline elution assay. In an in vitro chromosome aberration assay, when Chinese hamster ovary cells were treated with high concentrations (450-550 μmol) of finasteride, there was a slight increase in chromosome aberrations. These concentrations correspond to 18,000-22,000 times the peak plasma levels in man given a total dose of 1 mg. Further, the concentrations (450-550 μmol) used in the in vitro studies are not achievable in a biological system. In an in vivo chromosome aberration assay in mice, no treatment-related increases in chromosome aberration were observed with finasteride at the maximum tolerated dose (250 mg/kg/day; 12,500 times the recommended human dose of 1 mg/day).
PROPECIA is indicated for the treatment of men with male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) to increase hair growth and prevent further hair loss. Safety and efficacy were demonstrated in men between 18 to 41 years of age with mild to moderate hair loss of the vertex and anterior mid-scalp area. Efficacy in bitemporal recession has not been established.
PROPECIA is not indicated for use in women (see USE IN PREGNANCY & LACTATION) or children. PROPECIA is not effective in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia.
The recommended dosage is one 1-mg tablet daily. PROPECIA may be taken with or without food.
In general, daily use for 3 months or more is necessary before increased hair growth and/or prevention of further hair loss is observed. Continued use is recommended to obtain maximum benefit. Withdrawal of treatment leads to reversibility of effect within 12 months.
In clinical studies, single doses of finasteride up to 400 mg and multiple doses of finasteride up to 80 mg/day for three months did not result in side effects.
No specific treatment for overdosage with PROPECIA is recommended.
PROPECIA is contraindicated in the following: Use in women when the patients are or may potentially be pregnant (See USE IN PREGNANCY & LACTATION); Hypersensitivity to any component of this product.
PROPECIA is not indicated for use in women or children.
In clinical studies with PROPECIA in men 18-41 years of age, the mean value of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decreased from 0.7 ng/mL at baseline to 0.5 ng/mL at Month 12. When PROPECIA is used for treatment of male pattern hair loss in older men who also have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), consideration should be given to the fact that, in older men with BPH, PSA levels are decreased by approximately 50%.
Breast cancer has been reported in men taking finasteride 1 mg during the post-marketing period. Physicians should instruct their patients to promptly report any changes in their breast tissue such as lumps, pain, gynaecomastia or nipple discharge.
Use in Children: PROPECIA is not indicated for use in children.
Use in Elderly: Clinical studies with PROPECIA have not been conducted in elderly men with male pattern hair loss.
Pregnancy: PROPECIA is contraindicated for use in women when they are or may potentially be pregnant.
Because of the ability of Type II 5α-reductase inhibitors to inhibit conversion of testosterone to DHT in some tissues, these drugs, including finasteride, may cause abnormalities of the external genitalia of a male fetus when administered to a pregnant woman.
Women should not handle crushed or broken tablets of PROPECIA when the patients are or may potentially be pregnant because of the possibility of absorption of finasteride and the subsequent potential risk to a male fetus. PROPECIA tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets have not been broken or crushed.
Nursing mothers: PROPECIA is not indicated for use in women.
It is not known whether finasteride is excreted in human milk.
PROPECIA is generally well tolerated. Side effects, which usually have been mild, generally have not required discontinuation of therapy.
Finasteride for male pattern hair loss has been evaluated for safety in clinical studies involving more than 3,200 men. In three 12-month, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter studies of comparable design, the overall safety profiles of PROPECIA and placebo were similar. Discontinuation of therapy due to any clinical adverse experience occurred in 1.7% of 945 men treated with PROPECIA and 2.1% of 934 men treated with placebo.
In these studies, the following drug-related adverse experiences were reported in ≥1% of men treated with PROPECIA: decreased libido (PROPECIA, 1.8% vs. placebo, 1.3%) and erectile dysfunction (1.3%, 0.7%). In addition, decreased volume of ejaculate was reported in 0.8% of men treated with PROPECIA and 0.4% of men treated with placebo. Resolution of these side effects occurred in men who discontinued therapy with PROPECIA and in many who continued therapy. In a separate study, the effect of PROPECIA on ejaculate volume was measured and was not different from that seen with placebo.
The incidence of each of the previously mentioned side effects decreased to ≤0.3% by the fifth year of treatment with PROPECIA.
Finasteride has also been studied for prostate cancer risk reduction at 5 times the dosage recommended for male pattern hair loss. In a 7-year placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 18,882 healthy men, of whom 9060 had prostate needle biopsy data available for analysis, prostate cancer was detected in 803 (18.4%) men receiving finasteride 5 mg and 1147 (24.4%) men receiving placebo. In the finasteride 5 mg group, 280 (6.4%) men had prostate cancer with Gleason scores of 7-10 detected on needle biopsy vs. 237 (5.1%) men in the placebo group. Additional analyses suggest that the increase in the prevalence of high-grade prostate cancer observed in the finasteride 5 mg group may be explained by a detection bias due to the effect of finasteride 5 mg on prostate volume. Of the total cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in this study, approximately 98% were classified as intracapsular (clinical stage T1 or T2) at diagnosis. The clinical significance of the Gleason 7-10 data is unknown. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may increase the risk of development of high grade prostate cancer. Whether the effect of 5α-reductase inhibitors to reduce prostate volume, or study-related factors, impacted the results of these studies has not been established.
Postmarketing Experience: The following additional adverse experiences have been reported in postmarketing use. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate the frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Immune system disorders: hypersensitivity reactions such as rash, pruritus, urticaria, and angioedema (including swelling of the lips, tongue, throat and face).
Psychiatric disorders: depression; decreased libido that continued after discontinuation of treatment.
Reproductive system and breast disorders: sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorders) that continued after discontinuation of treatment; breast tenderness and enlargement; male breast cancer (See PRECAUTIONS); testicular pain; hematospermia; male infertility and/or poor seminal quality. Normalization or improvement of seminal quality has been reported after discontinuation of finasteride.
No drug interactions of clinical importance have been identified. Finasteride does not appear to affect the cytochrome P450-linked drug metabolizing enzyme system. Compounds that have been tested in man have included antipyrine, digoxin, glyburide, propranolol, theophylline, and warfarin and no interactions were found.
Although specific interaction studies were not performed, in clinical studies finasteride doses of 1 mg or more were used concomitantly with ACE inhibitors, acetaminophen, alpha blockers, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, calcium-channel blockers, cardiac nitrates, diuretics, H2 antagonists, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors (NSAIDs), and quinolones, without evidence of clinically significant adverse interactions.
Store below 30°C. Keep container closed and protect from moisture.
D11AX10 - finasteride ; Belongs to the class of other dermatologicals.
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