The Development of BRL 7660 as an Anti-Acne Agent
July 2005
in “
SKINmed/Skinmed
”
TLDR BRL 7660, once studied for male contraception, showed promise as an acne treatment but was not developed further due to competing drugs.
BRL 7660, initially investigated as a male anti-fertility agent, was found to be ineffective for that purpose but demonstrated potential as an anti-acne agent due to its ability to inhibit testosterone 5-alpha-reductase. Although it exhibited minimal steroidal activity, it effectively reduced sebum secretion in rats and, upon topical application, diminished the effects of testosterone in hamster flank organs. Human trials indicated that topical use of BRL 7660 significantly decreased sebum production and alleviated acne symptoms, with patients responding positively to the treatment. However, the presence of placebo effects called for additional formulation research. Despite these promising results, the development of BRL 7660 as an anti-acne agent was halted due to competition from other drugs in development at the time.
