Use of 2-alpha-cyano-4-alpha, 5-alpha-epoxyandrostan-17-beta-ol-3-one derivatives to decrease serum cortisol levels and to treat associated clinical conditions

摘要

Use of a compound of formula (I) or a C1-4 alkanoate ester of 3-enol thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the intermittent treatment of a condition of a human or non-human mammal in which the condition is selected among Cushing's Syndrome, Cushing's Disease, Pseudo-Cushing's Syndrome, Alopecia X in dogs, Laminitis in horses, hypercortisolemia associated with insulin-dependent diabetes, hypercortisolemia associated with age or hypercortisolemia associated with depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease , alcoholism, anorexia nervosa, bulimia or addiction, said intermittent treatment comprising administering once a day a dosage of up to 10 mg / kg of the compound of formula (I) or a C1-4 alkanoate ester of 3-enol thereof: in the that R1, R2, R5 and R6 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1 to 4 alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, C1 to 4 alkyl, C1 to 4 alkenyl or C1 to 4 alkynyl; R4 is hydroxy, C1 to 4 alkanoyloxy, a group of formula (II) or (III) in which R7 is (CH2) n, where n is an integer from 0 to 4, R8 is hydrogen, C1 to 4 alkyl, hydroxy or NH2 and R9 and R10 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1 to 4 alkyl; or R3 and R4 together are oxo, ethylenedioxy or propylenedioxy.