Identification of Metabolites for the Novel 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Epristeride In Vitro and Its Potential Impact on Doping Testing
November 2025
in “
Drug Testing and Analysis
”
TLDR Epristeride's metabolism involves key metabolites and proteins, affecting its use in doping tests.
Epristeride, a novel inhibitor of Type II 5α‐reductase, is being studied for its potential use in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and its implications for doping control. This study used in vitro microsome models to explore epristeride's metabolic pathways, identifying three primary metabolites: two Phase I oxidation products (M1 and M2) and one Phase II glucuronidation product (M3). The research highlighted the dominant role of the CYP3A4 isoform in epristeride metabolism and identified five key target proteins with which the Phase I metabolites showed significant binding potential. These findings enhance the understanding of epristeride's pharmacokinetics and its potential impact on steroid metabolism, providing crucial insights for its monitoring in doping tests.