Non-steroidal progesterone receptor modulators

Progesterone (P-4) plays an essential role in female reproduction and progesterone receptor (PR) agonists have been used in female contraceptives and in postmenopausal hormone therapy. Recent studies in women and non-human primates show that PR antagonists may also have potential as contraceptive agents and for the treatment of various gynaecological and obstetric diseases, including fibroids, endometriosis and, possibly, hormone-dependent cancers. Clinically available PR agonists and antagonists are steroidal compounds and often cause various side effects due to their functional interaction with other steroid receptors. Recently, numerous receptor-selective nonsteroidal PR agonists and antagonists have emerged. This patent review will focus on the latest developments in these areas (since 2000).