Repositioning Candidate Details

Candidate ID: R1450
Source ID: DB12499
Source Type: approved; investigational
Compound Type: small molecule
Compound Name: Clascoterone
Synonyms: 11-deoxycortisol 17α-propionate; Clascoterone; Cortexolone 17alpha-propionate; Cortexolone 17α-propionate
Molecular Formula: C24H34O5
SMILES: [H][C@@]12CC[C@](OC(=O)CC)(C(=O)CO)[C@@]1(C)CC[C@@]1([H])[C@@]2([H])CCC2=CC(=O)CC[C@]12C
Structure:
DrugBank Description: Clascoterone (cortexolone 17α-propionate, CB-03-01) is a novel antagonist of androgen receptors. It binds to androgen receptors with high affinity. By competing with androgens for binding to androgen receptors, clascoterone works by blocking the androgen receptor signalling cascades that promote acne pathogenesis, such as sebaceous gland proliferation, excess sebum production, and inflammatory pathways. In August 2020, FDA approved clascoterone for the first-in-class topical treatment of acne (acne vulgaris) in male and female patients 12 years and older. Clascoterone is also being investigated as a novel treatment for androgenetic alopecia.
CAS Number: 19608-29-8
Molecular Weight: 402.531
DrugBank Indication: Clascoterone is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.
DrugBank Pharmacology: Clascoterone exerts anti-androgenic effects by working as an antagonist at androgen receptors (ARs) expressed throughout the skin, including sebaceous glands, sebocytes, and dermal papilla cells. Clascoterone blocks the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which are androgens that bind to the ARs and contribute to the development of androgen-dependent conditions such as acne and alopecia. _In vitro_, the antiandrogenic effects of clascoterone in human primary sebocytes occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Clascoterone mediates selective topical activity by mainly targeting androgen receptors at the site of application. It has limited systemic effects. In clinical trials, HPA axis suppression was observed as a 30-minute post-stimulation serum cortisol level of ≤18 mcg/dL in 5% of adult subjects and 9% of adolescent subjects with acne vulgaris following two weeks of topical treatment of clascoterone. HPA axis function returned to normal following the discontinuation of drug treatment.
DrugBank MoA: Acne is a multifactorial skin condition characterized by excess sebum production, epithelial hyperkeratinization, proliferation of the skin commensal bacteria, and inflammation. Circulating and locally synthesized natural ligands, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), serve as causative factors in both males and females. Upon binding of DHT, the DHT-androgen receptor complex dimerizes and translocates to the nucleus where it promotes the transcription of genes involved in acne pathogenesis, including proliferation and differentiation of sebocytes, excess sebum production, and inflammatory cytokine production. Clascoterone is a potent antagonist at ARs and competes for androgens in binding to the receptor, thereby inhibiting downstream signalling of ARs that promote acne. Androgenetic alopecia is also an androgen-dependent and highly genetic condition. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds to ARs expressed on dermal papilla cells (DPC) in the scalp to induce AR-mediated transcription of genes that contribute to androgenic alopecia. By blocking the interaction between DHT and aARs, clascoterone inhibits AR-regulated transcription and DHT-induced IL-6 synthesis.
Targets: Androgen receptor antagonist
Inclusion Criteria: Therapeutic strategy associated

Strategy ID Strategy Synonyms Related Targets Related Drugs
S05 Anti-inflammatory inflammatory Bile acid; TNF-a inhibitor; Dual PPAR-α and -δ agonists; Toll-Like Receptor; (TLR)-4 antagonist; Caspase inhibitor; ASK-1 inhibitor Ursodeoxycholic Acid; Pentoxifylline; Elafibranor; JKB-121; Emricasan; Selonsertib; Details

Target ID Target Name GENE Action Class UniProtKB ID Entry Name

Diseases ID DO ID Disease Name Definition Class