Hydroxyprogesterone caproate
Hydroxyprogesterone caproate (OHPC), sold under the brand names Proluton and Makena among others, is a progestin medication which is used to prevent preterm birth in pregnant women with a history of the condition and to treat gynecological disorders.[1][8][9][10][3] It has also been formulated in combination with estrogens for various indications (brand names Gravibinon and Primosiston) and as a form of long-lasting injectable birth control (brand name Chinese Injectable No. 1).[11] It is not used by mouth and is instead given by injection into muscle or fat, typically once per week to once per month depending on the indication.[1][4][3]
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Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Delalutin, Proluton, Proluton Depot, Makena, others |
Other names | OHPC; Hydroxyprogesterone capronate; Hydroxyprogesterone hexanoate; 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone caproate; 17α-OHPC; 17-Hydroxyprogesterone caproate; 17-OHPC; 17-HPC; 17α-HPC; HPC; LPCN-1107; 17α-Hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione 17α-hexanoate |
Pregnancy category |
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Routes of administration | • Intramuscular injection[1] • Subcutaneous autoinjection[2][3] |
Drug class | Progestogen; Progestin; Progestogen ester; Antigonadotropin |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | Oral: Very low (~3% in rats)[4] Intramuscular: 100% (in rats)[4] |
Protein binding | Extensive (to albumin, not to CBG or (likely) SHBG)[1][5][6] |
Metabolism | Reduction and hydroxylation (via CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP3A7) and conjugation (glucuronidation, sulfation, acetylation)[1] |
Elimination half-life | Non-pregnant: 7.8 days[7][8] Singlet: 16–17 days[1][9] Twins: 10 days[9] |
Excretion | Feces: 50%[1] Urine: 30%[1] |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.010.127 ![]() |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C27H40O4 |
Molar mass | 428.613 g·mol−1 |
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OHPC is generally well tolerated and produces few side effects.[1] Injection site reactions such as pain and swelling are the most common side effect of OHPC.[1] The medication may increase the risk of gestational diabetes when used in pregnant women.[1][12] OHPC is a progestin, or a synthetic progestogen, and hence is an agonist of the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progestogens like progesterone.[12] It has some antimineralocorticoid activity and no other important hormonal activity.[13][14][15][16][17] The medication shows a number of differences from natural progesterone.[12][18]
OHPC was discovered in 1953 and was introduced for medical use in 1954 or 1955.[19] It was marketed in the United States under the brand name Delalutin and throughout Europe under the brand name Proluton.[20] The medication was discontinued in the United States in 1999.[21] However, OHPC was subsequently reintroduced in the United States under the brand name Makena for the treatment of preterm birth in 2011.[22] Due to a greatly increased price, a pricing controversy occurred in this country.[22] OHPC was previously available at low cost from compounding pharmacies in the United States, but this became prohibited in 2016.[22][23][24][25]
Medical uses
Preterm birth
The use of OHPC in pregnancy to prevent preterm birth in women with a history of preterm delivery between 20 weeks and 36 weeks and 6 days is supported by the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic Guidelines put out in May 2012 as Level I and III evidence, Level A recommendation.[26] Level I evidence refers to a properly powered randomized controlled trial, and level III evidence is support from expert opinion, while a Level A recommendation confers that the recommendation is made based on good and consistent scientific evidence. OHPC 250 mg IM weekly preferably starting at 16–20 weeks until 36 weeks is recommended. In these women, if the transvaginal ultrasound cervical length shortens to <25 mm at < 24 weeks, cervical cerclage may be offered. In the 2013 study the guideline recommendation is based on,[27] there was also a significant decrease of neonatal morbidity including lower rates of necrotizing enterocolitis (0 in the treatment group vs 4 in the control), intraventricular hemorrhage (4 in the treatment group compared with 8 in the control for a relative risk of 0.25), and need for supplemental oxygen (14% in the treatment group vs 24% in the placebo for a relative risk of 0.42). Furthermore, this study contained 463 women, 310 of whom received injection. Of these women, 9 had infants with congenital malformations (2%), but there was no consistent pattern and none involved internal organs.
OHPC is currently (as of June 2014) pregnancy category B, meaning there is no evidence of fetal risk with use of this medication during pregnancy. Although this is now the recommendation, this has not always been the case. A review by Marc Keirse of Flinders University concluded that information about the potential harms was lacking.[28] Three clinical studies in singleton pregnancies of 250 mg/week of intramuscular OHPC have all shown a trend for an increase in pregnancy loss due to miscarriage compared to placebo.[29][30][27] One of them, a large National Institutes of Health (NIH) study in 2003, looked at the effect of OHPC injections in women at risk for repeat premature birth and found that the treated group experienced premature birth in 37% versus 55% in the controls.[27] A follow-up study of the offspring showed no evidence that OHPC affected the children in the first years of life.[31] Based on these NIH data, OHPC was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011 as a medication to reduce the risk of premature birth in selected women at risk. (v.i.)
The FDA expressed concern about miscarriage at the 2006 advisory committee meeting; the committee voted unanimously that further study was needed to evaluate the potential association of OHPC with increased risk of second trimester miscarriage and stillbirth.[32] A toxicology study in rhesus monkeys resulted in the death of all rhesus fetuses exposed to 1 and 10 times the human dose equivalent of OHPC.[33] As of 2008, OHPC was a category D progestin according to the FDA (that is, there is evidence of fetal harm). There is speculation that the castor oil in the OHPC formulation may not be beneficial for pregnancy.[34][35] Of note, the above-mentioned NEJM study by Meirs et al. compares the effect of OHPC (with the castor oil component) to castor oil injection as the placebo.
A study published in February 2016 in The Lancet stated the below, amongst other findings:[36]
OPPTIMUM strongly suggests that the efficacy of progesterone in improving outcomes is either non-existent or weak. Given the heterogeneity of the preterm labour syndrome we cannot exclude benefit in specific phenotypic or genotypic subgroups of women at risk. However, the subgroups of women who might benefit do not appear to be easily identifiable by current selection strategies, including cervical length measurement and fibronectin testing. Reassuringly, our study suggests that progesterone is safe for those who wish to take it for preterm birth prophylaxis. The overall rate of maternal or child adverse events was similar in the progesterone and placebo groups. There were few differences in the incidence of adverse secondary outcomes in the two groups, with the exception of a higher rate of renal, gastrointestinal, and respiratory complications in childhood in the progesterone groups. Importantly, the absolute rates of these complications was low. Follow-up of other babies exposed in utero to vaginal progesterone would be helpful in determining whether the increased rate of some renal, gastrointestinal, and respiratory complications is a real effect or a type I error.
The journal reviewer Richard Lehman, senior Research Fellow at the Department of Primary Health Care at the University of Oxford, made the following notable commentary on the OPPTIMUM study: "That's it. This story is ended, and nobody need ever use vaginal progesterone again to prevent preterm birth."[37]
A Cochrane review on progestogen for preventing preterm birth concluded that there was little evidence that either vaginal or intramuscular progesterone helped to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with a multiple pregnancy.[38]
Gynecological disorders
OHPC is used in the treatment of threatened miscarriage, gynecological disorders such as dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, fibrocystic breast disease, adenosis, and breast pain.[9] In addition, OHPC is used in the treatment of endometrial cancer and has been found to be significantly effective in extending life in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women with the disease.[39] The medication was used widely in the 1950s through the 1970s for such indications, but OHPC more recently has received the most attention in the prevention of preterm birth.[9]
Birth control
OHPC is available in combination with estradiol valerate as a once-monthly combined injectable contraceptive in a few countries.[11][40]
Other uses
OHPC has been used as a component of menopausal hormone therapy in women.[41][42]
OHPC has been used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in men, although evidence of effectiveness is marginal and uncertain.[43] It has also been used to treat prostate cancer, at a dosage of 1,500 mg twice per week.[44][45][46][47] The mechanism of action of OHPC in these uses is suppression of testicular androgen production via suppression of luteinizing hormone secretion, which are the result of the progestogenic and antigonadotropic activity of OHPC.[43] However, symptoms of hypogonadism may develop when OHPC is used for this indication, with two-thirds of men reportedly experiencing impotence.[48]
OHPC has been used as a component of feminizing hormone therapy for transgender women.[49][50][51][52][53] Due to micronization, bioidentical progestogens are more commonly used.
Available forms
![](../I/m/Proluton_Depot_(hydroxyprogesterone_caproate)_packs.jpg)
OHPC is available alone in the form of ampoules and vials of 125 and 250 mg/mL oil solutions for intramuscular injection (brand names Proluton, Makena).[54][55] It is also available alone in the form of a 250 mg/mL autoinjector for use by subcutaneous injection (brand name Makena).[3]
OHPC is or was available in combination with estradiol valerate in the form of ampoules and vials of 250 mg/mL OHPC and 5 mg/mL estradiol valerate oil solutions for intramuscular injection (brand names Gravibinon, Chinese Injectable No. 1).[56][57][58][59] The medication is or was available in combination with estradiol benzoate in the form of ampoules of 125–250 mg OHPC and 10 mg estradiol benzoate in oil solution for intramuscular injection (brand name Primosiston) as well.[60][61][62][63][64]:1045 In addition, OHPC has been marketed in combination with estradiol dipropionate in the form of 50 mg/mL OHPC and 1 mg/mL estradiol dipropionate (brand name EP Hormone Depot) in Japan.[65][66]
Contraindications
Contraindications of OHPC include previous or current thrombosis or thromboembolic disease, known or suspected breast cancer, past or present history of other hormone-sensitive cancer, undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding unrelated to pregnancy, cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy, liver tumors or active liver disease, and uncontrolled hypertension.[3] A few relative contraindications also exist for OHPC.[3]
Side effects
OHPC is generally well tolerated and produces relatively few side effects.[1] Injection site reactions such as pain, soreness, swelling, itching, bruising, and lumps are the most common side effect of OHPC.[1] In contrast to large doses of progesterone however, which produce moderate-to-severe such reactions, OHPC is relatively free from injection site reactions.[67] Side effects of OHPC that occur in greater than or equal to 2% of users include injection site pain (34.8%), injection site swelling (17.1%), urticaria (12.3%), pruritis (7.7%), injection site pruritus (5.8%), nausea (5.8%), injection site nodules (4.5%), and diarrhea (2.3%).[3] Numerically increased rates relative to controls of miscarriage (2.4% vs. 0%), stillbirth (2.0% vs. 1.3%), admission for preterm labor (16.0% vs. 13.8%), preeclampsia or gestational hypertension (8.8% vs. 4.6%), gestational diabetes (5.6% vs. 4.6%),[1][12] and oligohydramnios (3.6% vs. 1.3%) have been observed with OHPC in clinical trials in which it was given to pregnant women to prevent preterm birth.[3]
Overdose
There have been no reports of overdose of OHPC.[3] In the event of overdose, treatment should be based on symptoms.[3] OHPC has been studied in humans at high doses of 2,000 to 5,000 mg per week by intramuscular injection, without safety concerns.[7][17][68][69]
Interactions
OHPC is not likely to affect most cytochrome P450 enzymes at therapeutic concentrations.[3] Drug interaction studies have not been performed with OHPC.[3]
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
OHPC has progestogenic activity, some antimineralocorticoid activity, and no other important hormonal activity.[13][8][14][15][68]
Compound | hPR-A | hPR-B | rbPR | rbGR | rbER | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progesterone | 100 | 100 | 100 | <1 | <1 | |||
17α-Hydroxyprogesterone | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | <1 | |||
Hydroxyprogesterone caproate | 26 | 30 | 28 | 4 | <1 | |||
Hydroxyprogesterone acetate | 38 | 46 | 115 | 3 | ? | |||
Notes: Values are percentages (%). Reference ligands (100%) were progesterone for the PR, dexamethasone for the GR, and estradiol for the ER. Sources: See template. |
Progestogen | Form | Major brand names | Class | TFD (14 days) | POIC-D (2–3 months) | CIC-D (month) | Duration | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algestone acetophenide | Oil solution | Perlutal, Topasel, Yectames | Pregnane | ? | – | 75–150 mg | 100 mg ≈ 14–32 days | |
Cyproterone acetate | Oil solution | Androcur Depot | Pregnane | ? | – | – | 300 mg ≈ 20 days | |
Dydrogesteronea | Aqueous suspension | – | Retropregnane | ? | – | – | 100 mg ≈ 16–38 days | |
Gestonorone caproate | Oil solution | Depostat, Primostat | Norpregnane | 25–50 mg | – | – | 25–50 mg ≈ 8–13 days | |
Hydroxyprogesterone acetatea | Aqueous suspension | – | Pregnane | 350 mg | – | – | 150–350 mg ≈ 9–16 days | |
Hydroxyprogesterone caproate | Oil solution | Delalutin, Proluton, Makena | Pregnane | 250–500 mgb | – | 250–500 mg | 65–500 mg ≈ 5–21 days | |
Levonorgestrel butanoatea | Aqueous suspension | – | Gonane | ? | – | – | 5–50 mg ≈ 3–6 months | |
Lynestrenol phenylpropionatea | Oil solution | – | Estrane | ? | – | – | 50–100 mg ≈ 14–30 days | |
Medroxyprogesterone acetate | Aqueous suspension | Depo-Provera | Pregnane | 50–100 mg | 150 mg | 25 mg | 50–150 mg ≈ 14–50+ days | |
Megestrol acetate | Aqueous suspension | Mego-E | Pregnane | ? | – | 25 mg | 25 mg ≈ >14 daysc | |
Norethisterone enanthate | Oil solution | Noristerat, Mesigyna | Estrane | 100–200 mg | 200 mg | 50 mg | 50–200 mg ≈ 11–52 days | |
Oxogestone phenylpropionatea | Oil solution | – | Norpregnane | ? | – | – | 100 mg ≈ 19–20 days | |
Progesterone | Oil solution | Progestaject, Gestone, Strone | Pregnane | 200 mgb | – | – | 25–350 mg ≈ 2–6 days | |
Aqueous suspension | Agolutin Depot | Pregnane | 50–200 mg | – | – | 50–300 mg ≈ 7–14 days | ||
Note: All by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. All are synthetic except for P4, which is bioidentical. P4 production during the luteal phase is ~25 (15–50) mg/day. The OID of OHPC is 250 to 500 mg/month. Footnotes: a = Never marketed by this route. b = In divided doses (2 × 125 or 250 mg for OHPC, 10 × 20 mg for P4). c = Half-life is ~14 days. Sources: Main: See template. |
Progestogenic activity
OHPC, also known as 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, is closer to progesterone in terms of structure and pharmacology than most other progestins, and is essentially a pure progestogen – that is, a selective agonist of the progesterone receptor (PR) with minimal or no other hormonal activity.[16][17] However, OHPC has improved pharmacokinetics compared to progesterone, namely a much longer duration with intramuscular injection in oil solution.[9][70][61][71]
Administered by intramuscular injection, the endometrial transformation dosage of OHPC per cycle is 250 to 500 mg, and the weekly substitution dosage of OHPC is 250 mg, while the effective dosage of OHPC in the menstrual delay test (Greenblatt) is 25 mg per week.[61][71][72] An effective ovulation-inhibiting dosage of OHPC is 500 mg once per month by intramuscular injection.[58][73][74] However, the dose of OHPC used in once-a-month combined injectable contraceptives is 250 mg, and this combination is effective for inhibition of ovulation similarly.[58][74] For comparison, the dose of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA; 6α-methyl-17α-hydroxyprogesterone acetate), a close analogue of OHPC, used by intramuscular injection in microcrystalline aqueous suspension in once-a-month combined injectable contraceptives, is 25 mg.[58][73] It has also been said that given by intramuscular injection, 250 mg OHPC in oil solution is equivalent in progestogenic potency to 50 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate in microcrystalline aqueous suspension.[75] Although the elimination half-life of intramuscular OHPC in oil solution in non-pregnant women is about 8 days,[7][8] the elimination half-life of intramuscular medroxyprogesterone acetate in microcrystalline aqueous suspension in women is around 50 days.[76] OHPC is also to some degree less potent than the more closely related ester hydroxyprogesterone acetate (OHPA; 17α-hydroxyprogesterone acetate).[77]
17α-Hydroxyprogesterone (OHP) has weak progestogenic activity, but C17α esterification results in higher progestogenic activity.[64] Of a variety of different esters, the caproate (hexanoate) ester was found to have the strongest progestogenic activity, and this served as the basis for the development of OHPC, as well as other caproate progestogen esters such as gestonorone caproate.[64] OHPC is a much more potent progestogen than 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, but does not have as high of affinity for the PR as progesterone.[77] OHPC has about 26% and 30% of the affinity of progesterone for the human PR-A and PR-B, respectively.[1][77] The medication was no more efficacious than progesterone in activating these receptors and eliciting associated gene expression in vitro.[1][77]
Antigonadotropic effects
Due to activation of the PR, OHPC has antigonadotropic effects, or produces suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis,[78][79] and can significantly suppress gonadotropin secretion and gonadal sex hormone production at sufficiently high doses.[47] One study found that OHPC by intramuscular injection at a dosage of 200 mg twice weekly for the first two weeks and then 200 mg once weekly for 12 weeks did not significantly influence urinary excretion of estrogens, luteinizing hormone, or follicle-stimulating hormone in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.[80] In another study that used an unspecified dosage of intramuscular OHPC, testosterone secretion was assessed in a single man and was found to decrease from 4.2 mg/day to 2.0 mg/day (or by approximately 52%) by 6 weeks of treatment, whereas secretion of luteinizing hormone remained unchanged in the man.[16] Yet another study found that 3,000 mg/week OHPC by intramuscular injection suppressed testosterone levels from 640 ng/dL to 320–370 ng/dL (by 42–50%) in a single man with prostate cancer, which was similar to the testosterone suppression with cyproterone acetate or chlormadinone acetate.[81] Gestonorone caproate, a closely related progestin to OHPC with about 5- to 10-fold greater potency in humans,[82][83] was found to suppress testosterone levels by 75% at a dosage of 400 mg/week in men with prostate cancer.[84][85] For comparison, orchiectomy decreased testosterone levels by 91%.[84] In general, progestins are able to maximally suppress testosterone levels by about 70 to 80%.[86][87][88][84][85] The antigonadotropic effects of OHPC and hence its testosterone suppression are the basis of the use of OHPC in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer in men.[43][44][46][47] Suppression of luteinizing hormone levels by OHPC has also been observed in women.[89][83]
Glucocorticoid activity
OHPC is said not to have any glucocorticoid activity.[17] In accordance, OHPC has been found not to alter cortisol levels in humans even with very high doses by intramuscular injection.[7] This is of relevance because medications with significant glucocorticoid activity suppress cortisol levels due to increased negative feedback on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.[54][90][91] OHPC has been studied in humans at doses as high as 5,000 mg per week by intramuscular injection, with safety and without glucocorticoid effects observed.[7][69] The medication does interact with the glucocorticoid receptor however; it has about 4% of the affinity of dexamethasone for the rabbit glucocorticoid receptor.[1][77] But it acts as a partial agonist of the receptor and has no greater efficacy than progesterone in activating the receptor and eliciting associated gene expression in vitro.[1][77][92]
Other activities
As a pure progestogen, OHPC has no androgenic, antiandrogenic, estrogenic, or glucocorticoid activity.[16][17][93] The absence of androgenic and antiandrogenic activity with OHPC is in contrast to most other 17α-hydroxyprogesterone-derivative progestins.[70][93] Due to its lack of androgenic properties, similarly to progesterone, OHPC does not have any teratogenic effects on the fetus, making it safe for use during pregnancy.[17] Although OHPC has been described as a pure progestogen, there is evidence that it possesses some antimineralocorticoid activity, similarly to progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone.[14][94][15] This includes clinically important diuretic effects and reversal of estrogen-induced fluid retention and edema.[94] Unlike progesterone, OHPC and its metabolites are not anticipated to interact with non-genomic receptors such as membrane progesterone receptors or the GABAA receptor.[18] In accordance, OHPC is not thought to possess the neurosteroid activities of progesterone or its associated sedative effects.[18]
In relation to cytochrome P450 enzymes, OHPC has no effect on CYP1A, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, or CYP3A4, but is a modest inducer of CYP2C19.[9]
Differences from progesterone
There are pharmacodynamic differences between progesterone and OHPC, which may have implications for obstetrical use.[12][18] These include:[12][18]
- Decreased myometrial activity with progesterone in vitro but no effect or increased myometrial activity with OHPC[95]
- Prevention of cervical ripening with progesterone but unknown effect with OHPC
- A non-significantly increased rate of stillbirth and miscarriages with OHPC (in one study)
- A possibly increased incidence of gestational diabetes with OHPC (increased in two studies, no difference in one study) but no such effect with progesterone
- A significantly increased risk of perinatal adverse effects such as fetal loss and preterm delivery in multiple gestations with OHPC (in two studies)
Differences in the metabolism of progesterone and OHPC and differences in the formation and activities of metabolites may be responsible for or involved in these observed biological and pharmacological differences.[18] Progesterone is metabolized by 5α- and 5β-reductases, 3α- and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, and 20α- and 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in various tissues.[18][96] In target tissues, particularly the cervix and myometrium, these enzymes regulate local progesterone concentrations and can activate or inactivate progesterone signaling.[18] In addition, these enzymes catalyze the formation of metabolites of progesterone such as 5β-dihydroprogesterone and allopregnanolone, which signal through their own non-genomic receptors such as membrane progesterone receptors and the GABAA receptor and have their own important effects in pregnancy.[95][97][98] As examples, 5β-dihydroprogesterone has been found to play an important role in suppressing myometrial activity while allopregnanolone has potent sedative and anesthetic effects in the mother and especially the fetus and is involved in fetal nervous system development.[18][97][98][99][100] In contrast to progesterone, OHPC is not metabolized by traditional steroid-transforming enzymes and instead is metabolized exclusively via oxidation at the caproate side chain by cytochrome P450 enzymes.[18] As such, it is not thought to have the same tissue-specific activation and inactivation patterns that progesterone does nor the same non-genomic actions that progesterone and its metabolites possess.[18]
Further clinical research is anticipated to provide additional data to help clarify the issue of safety with OHPC.[12] In any case, it has been recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that pregnant women treated with OHPC receive counseling about its risks and benefits.[12]
Pharmacokinetics
Parameter | Singleton | Twin |
---|---|---|
Cmax (ng/mL) | 22.6 (15.8–27.4) | 17.3 (12–27) |
Cmean(0–t) (ng/mL) | 16.8 (12.8–22.7) | 12.3 (8.4–18.7) |
Ctrough (ng/mL) | 14.1 (10–18.1) | 11.2 (4.8–16.3) |
AUC0–t (ng/mL/day) | 117.3 (89.9–159.1) | 86.1 (59–131) |
t1/2 (days) | 16.2 (10.6–21.0) | 10 (6–16) |
Tmax (days) | 1.0 (1–3) | 1.2 (1–2) |
Vd/F (×103) (L) | 56 (25.2–69.6) | 16.9 (9.1–24.5) |
Cl/F (×103) (L) | 2.1 (1.5–2.7) | 1.2 (0.9–1.7) |
Footnotes: a = OHPC 250 mg once per week by intramuscular injection. Sources: [9][101][102] |
Absorption
In animals, the bioavailability of OHPC with intramuscular injection is nearly 100%, but its oral bioavailability is very low at less than 3%.[4] In women, 70 mg/day oral OHPC has similar endometrial potency as 70 mg/day oral OHPA and 2.5 mg/day oral medroxyprogesterone acetate, indicating that oral OHPC and OHPA have almost 30-fold lower potency than medroxyprogesterone acetate via oral administration.[103] Studies on progestogenic endometrial changes with oral OHPC in women are mixed however, with one finding weak effects with 100 mg/day whereas another found that doses of 250 to 1,000 mg produced no effects.[104][105] As a result of its low oral potency, OHPC has not been used by the oral route and has instead been administered by intramuscular injection.[4] However, a novel oral formulation of OHPC (developmental code name LPCN-1107) is under development and has been found to be effective, though it required administration twice a day in a clinical study.[106][107][108]
A depot effect occurs when OHPC is injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously, such that the medication has a prolonged duration of action.[2][9] Following a single intramuscular injection of 1,000 mg OHPC in five women with endometrial cancer, peak levels of OHPC were 27.8 ± 5.3 ng/mL and the time to peak concentrations was 4.6 ± 1.7 (3–7) days.[7][109] Following 13 weeks of continuous administration of 1,000 mg OHPC per week, trough levels of OHPC were 60.0 ± 14 ng/mL.[7][109] The pharmacokinetic parameters of 250 mg OHPC once per week by intramuscular injection have also been studied in pregnant women with singleton and multiple (twin and triplet) gestation.[9][101][102] Steady state levels of the medication are achieved within 4 to 12 weeks of administration in pregnant women.[1] The duration of clinical biological effect of OHPC by intramuscular injection has also been studied in women.[110] A single intramuscular injection of 65 to 500 mg OHPC in oil solution has been found to have a duration of action of 5 to 21 days in terms of effect in the uterus and on body temperature in women.[110]
OHPC has been found to possess similar pharmacokinetics, including peak levels, time to peak levels, area-under-the-curve levels (i.e., total exposure), and elimination half-life, with administration via intramuscular injection or subcutaneous autoinjection.[2] However, there was a higher incidence of injection site pain with subcutaneous autoinjection than with intramuscular injection (37.3% vs. 8.2%).[2]
Distribution
OHPC is extensively bound to plasma proteins, of which include albumin.[1] Unlike progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, OHPC has very low affinity for corticosteroid-binding globulin (less than 0.01% of that of cortisol).[5] Progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone have low affinity for sex hormone-binding globulin, and for this reason, only a very small fraction of them (less than 0.5%) is bound to this protein in the circulation.[6]
Metabolism
OHPC appears to be metabolized primarily by the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP3A5.[1] It may also be metabolized by CYP3A7 in fetal liver and the placenta.[1] Unlike progesterone, OHPC is not metabolized by traditional steroid-transforming enzymes and does not form similar metabolites.[18] The metabolism of OHPC is by reduction, hydroxylation, and conjugation, including glucuronidation, sulfation, and acetylation.[18] The caproate ester of OHPC is not cleaved during metabolism, so 17α-hydroxyprogesterone is not formed from OHPC.[18][77] As such, OHPC is not a prodrug of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, nor of progesterone.[18][77]
OHPC has been found to have an elimination half-life of 7.8 days when given by intramuscular injection in an oil-based formulation to non-pregnant women.[7][8] Its total duration is said to be 10 to 14 days, which is much longer than the duration of intramuscularly administered progesterone in an oil formulation (2 to 3 days).[111] In pregnant women, the elimination half-life of OHPC appears to be longer, about 16 or 17 days.[1][9] However, in women pregnant with twins rather than a singlet, the elimination half-life of OHPC was found to be shorter than this, at 10 days.[9] OHPC has been detected in pregnant women up to 44 days after the last dose.[9]
Elimination
OHPC is eliminated 50% in feces and 30% in urine when given by intramuscular injection to pregnant women.[1] Both the free steroid and conjugates are excreted by these routes, with the conjugates more prominent in feces.[1]
Veterinary
The pharmacokinetics of OHPC in various ungulates including cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goat have been studied.[112]
Time–concentration curves
Chemistry
OHPC, also known as 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate or as 17α-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione 17α-hexanoate, is a synthetic pregnane steroid and a derivative of progesterone.[20][113] It is specifically a derivative of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone with a hexanoate (caproate) ester at the C17α position.[20][113] Analogues of OHPC include other 17α-hydroxyprogesterone derivatives such as algestone acetophenide (dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide), chlormadinone acetate, cyproterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone heptanoate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and megestrol acetate, as well as the caproate esters chlormadinone caproate, gestonorone caproate (norhydroxyprogesterone caproate), medroxyprogesterone caproate, megestrol caproate, and methenmadinone caproate.[20][113]
Synthesis
Chemical syntheses of OHPC have been described.[114][115][116]:6
History
Along with hydroxyprogesterone acetate, OHPC was developed by Karl Junkmann of Schering AG in 1953 and was first reported by him in the medical literature in 1954.[117][118][119][120][121] It was reportedly first marketed in Japan in 1954 or 1955,[19] and was subsequently introduced as Delalutin in the United States in 1956.[9][122] Due to its much longer duration than parenteral progesterone, OHPC had largely replaced progesterone in clinical practice by 1975.[123] After decades of use, Squibb, the manufacturer, voluntarily withdrew the Delalutin product in the United States in 1999.[21] Renewed interest in OHPC in the United States was sparked with a large NIH-sponsored study in 2003 that found that OHPC reduced the risk of premature birth in selected at-risk pregnant women.[27] With follow-up data showing no evidence of harmful effects on the offspring, the FDA approved the medication, as sponsored by KV Pharmaceutical as Makena, as an orphan drug in February 2011 to reduce the risk of premature birth in women prior to 37 weeks gestation with a single fetus who had at least one previous premature birth.[22][124]
Society and culture
Generic names
Hydroxyprogesterone caproate is the generic name of OHPC and its INN, USAN, BANM, and JAN, while hydroxyprogesterone hexanoate was its former BANM.[20][40][113]
OHPC is often mislabeled as and confused with progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone.[125] It should also not be confused with hydroxyprogesterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone heptanoate, or medroxyprogesterone acetate.[113]
Brand names
OHPC is marketed throughout the world under a variety of brand names including Proluton, Proluton Depot, and Makena (US), among many others.[20][40][113] It was also formerly marketed under brand names including Delalutin, Prodrox, and Hylutin among others, but these formulations have since been discontinued.[20][113] It has been marketed under the brand names Gravibinon and Injectable No. 1 (or Chinese Injectable No. 1) in combination with estradiol valerate[56][57][58][59] and under the brand name Primosiston in combination with estradiol benzoate.[60][61][62][63][64]
Availability
![](../I/m/Hydroxyprogesterone_caproate_availability.png)
OHPC is marketed in the United States and throughout Europe, Asia, and Central and South America.[20][40][126] It is notably not available in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, or South Africa, and only veterinary formulations are available in Australia.[20][40][126] OHPC is also marketed in combination with estradiol valerate as a combined injectable contraceptive in a number of countries including in South America, Mexico, Japan, and China.[20][40][126] It has been marketed as an injectable preparation in combination with estradiol benzoate in some countries as well.[60][61][62][63][64]
Price controversy
With the designation of OHPC as an orphan drug by the FDA and approval of Makena in 2011, the price of OHPC in the United States was going to increase from US$15 to US$1,500 for a single dose, or from about US$300 to between US$25,000 and US$30,000 for a typical single month of treatment.[22] This was about a 100-fold increase in cost, with "minimal added clinical benefit", and was a strongly criticized pricing strategy.[22][22] The FDA subsequently announced that compounding pharmacies could continue to sell OHPC at their usual cost of approximately US$10 to US$20 per dose without fear of legal reprisals.[22][23] KV Pharmaceutical also opted to reduced its price of Makena to US$690 per dose.[22][127] OHPC continued to be available at low cost from compounding pharmacies until late 2016, after which time the FDA published new guidance documents prohibiting compounding pharmacies from selling products that are "essentially copies" of commercially available drug products.[24][25]
Research
Cyclical therapy with 150 mg OHPC by intramuscular injection was found to be effective in the treatment of 76 women with persistent, treatment-refractory acne in a preliminary study, with 84% responding to the therapy and experiencing a "good-to-excellent" improvement in symptoms.[111][128]
OHPC was studied by Schering for use as a progestogen-only injectable contraceptive at a dose of 250 to 500 mg once a month by intramuscular injection but produced poor cycle control at these doses and was never marketed.[129][130]
OHPC by itself has been found to have little or no effectiveness in the treatment of breast cancer in women.[64][131][132][133] Conversely, the combination of estradiol valerate and OHPC has been found to be effective in the treatment of breast cancer in women.[64][94][134] Initial research based on limited clinical data reported that the breast-cancer response rate with a combination of estradiol valerate and OHPC seemed to be greater than with an estrogen alone (35% vs. 50%).[64] However, subsequent research using the related but more potent progestin gestonorone caproate found that the combination of estradiol valerate and gestonorone caproate had effectiveness that was not significantly different from that of an estrogen alone in the treatment of breast cancer in women.[135]
A novel oral formulation of OHPC (developmental code name LPCN-1107) is under development for the prevention of preterm labor.[106][107] As of September 2017, it is in phase II or phase III clinical trials for this indication.[106]
See also
References
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Geller has also demonstrated significant decreases in plasma or urine testosterone glucuronide levels following the administration of three other anti-androgens. These include Delalutin [hydroxyprogesterone caproate], chlormadinone acetate, and PH-218. It would appear that decreased androgen production is a property shared by all anti-androgens to date.
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Depotinjektionen [...] 2. Einmalige Injektion von 125mg oder 250mg 17α-Hydroxyprogesteroncapronat als Depotgestagen und 10 mg Oestradiolbenzoat in öliger Lösung (Primosiston) [47, 81, 110, 563, 523, 571, 718, 721, 732, 733, 864, 872, 933, 973, 400].
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After the transplantation, each mouse received an intramuscular injection of 0.1 ml EP Hormone Depot consisting of 1 mg/ml 17-β-estradiol dipropionate and 50 mg/ml hydroxyprogesterone caproate every week.
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50 mg of [medroxyprogesterone acetate], intramuscularly, is equivalent to 250 mg [hydroxyprogesterone caproate]
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Since the initial report by Geller and associates28 on the use of hydroxyprogesterone caproate in the treatment of BPH, a variety of progestins have been studied in the medical management of this disease: hydroxyprogesterone caproate, chlormadinone acetate,27 and medrogestone (6-methyl-6-dehydro-17-methylprogesterone).50 These drugs should have a beneficial effect in BPH as they inhibit testicular function by suppressing serum LH and have no intrinsic estrogenic or androgenic activity.
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Another synthetic gestogen, 17-hydroxy-19-norprogesterone caproate (Depostat-Schering), 400 mg by i.m. weekly injections suppressed T levels to 25% of pretreatment values (Sander er al., 1978).
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[...] the fetus is sedated by the low oxygen tension of the fetal blood and the neurosteroid anesthetics pregnanolone and the sleep-inducing prostaglandin D2 provided by the placenta (36).
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- Boggess KA, Baker JB, Murtha AP, Peaceman AM, Shah DM, Siegfried SL, Birch R (April 2018). "Pharmacokinetics of Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate and its Primary Metabolites during Pregnancy". AJP Reports. 8 (2): e106–e112. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1639331. PMC 5951785. PMID 29765789.
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3. Hydroxyprogesteron-caproat. C27H4004, Mol.-Gew.: 428,62; chemische Bezeichnung Δ4-Pregnen-17α-ol-3,20-dion-17α-capronat, Trivialnamen: Hydroxyprogesteroncapronat, 17α-Hydroxyprogesteron-17α-capronat. Synthese: [88]. Darstellung: [88]. Eigenschaften: weißes kristallines Pulver (aus Isopropyläther) oder Methanol, F.: 119-122⁰, [α]D: +60⁰ (Chlf.) UV-Absorption: λmax.: 240 mμ, ε = 17000. Dipolmoment: [μ = 2,21 (Benzol). Leicht löslich in Äthanol, Äther, Essigester, Benzol, Chloroform, löslich in: Petroläther, unlöslich in Wasser. Bei 20⁰ lösen 100 ml Sesamöl ca. 4,0 g, Ricinusöl ca. 2,5 g, Ricinusöl: Benzylbenzoat (4: 6) ca. 26,5 g, Benzylbenzoat ca. 36,0 g. [...] Abb. 3. IR-Spektrum [126] und Formel des Hydroxyprogesteron-caproat.
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In the group of new parenteral progestational agents, three substances developed by Karl Junkmann1,2 are the most outstanding and interesting: 17a-hydroxyprogesterone caproate and 17a-hydroxyprogesterone acetate, introduced in 1953, and the most potent of all new parenteral progestational agents, 17-ethynyl-19-nortestosterone enanthate, introduced in 1956.
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[The] minimal activity [of 17(a)-hydroxyprogesterone] is magnified to an unexpected degree by the esterification of this steroid with caproic acid to produce 17(a)-hydroxyprogesterone-17-n-caproate, first reported by Karl Junkmann in 1954.6,7
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Junkmann (1954) reported that the acetate, butyrate, and caproate forms had both increased and prolonged activity, [...]
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Junkmann of Schering, AG., however, was able to show that long chain esters of 17a-hydroxyprogesterones such as the 17a-caproate produced powerful long-acting progestational effect. This compound is marketed in the United States as Delalutin by Squibb, and has been heavily used for the treatment of habitual abortion.
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Supplied by.—E. R. Squibb & Sons (Delalutin). Year of introduction: 1956.
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Progesterone itself is now almost never used for the management of any imminent threat to pregnancy. For oral therapy, it is in any event unsuitable and for injections, it has now been replaced by the long-acting esters of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone. The caproate (Proluton, Delalutin), a long-acting ester, is available in [...] Progesterone is rarely used therapeutically. It has largely been superseded by a long-acting ester of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, for parenteral therapy.
- FDA press release regarding Makena approval
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- Crowley, Lawrence G.; Macdonald, Ian (1962). "Clinical trial of Delalutin in the treatment of advanced mammary carcinoma in postmenopausal women". Cancer. 15 (6): 1218–1220. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(196211/12)15:6<1218::AID-CNCR2820150619>3.0.CO;2-Y. ISSN 0008-543X. PMID 14024037.
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- Crowley, L.G.; MacDonald, J. (1966). "Delalutin und Östrogene als Behandlung des vorgeschrittenen Mammakarzinoms bei Frauen nach der Menopause" [Delalutin and estrogens as a treatment for advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women]. Gynäkologisch-geburtshilfliche Rundschau. 3 (4): 271–272. doi:10.1159/000266855. ISSN 1018-8843.
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Further reading
- Meis PJ (May 2005). "17 hydroxyprogesterone for the prevention of preterm delivery". Obstetrics and Gynecology. 105 (5 Pt 1): 1128–35. doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000160432.95395.8f. PMID 15863556.
- Facchinetti F, Vaccaro V (October 2009). "Pharmacological use of progesterone and 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in the prevention of preterm delivery". Minerva Ginecologica. 61 (5): 401–9. PMID 19749671.
- Deeks ED (October 2011). "17 α-Hydroxyprogesterone caproate (Makena™): in the prevention of preterm birth". Paediatric Drugs. 13 (5): 337–45. doi:10.2165/11208140-000000000-00000. PMID 21888448.
- Merlob P, Stahl B, Klinger G (January 2012). "17α Hydroxyprogesterone caproate for prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth". Reproductive Toxicology. 33 (1): 15–9. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2011.10.017. PMID 22120850.
- O'Brien JM (October 2012). "The safety of progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate administration for the prevention of preterm birth: an evidence-based assessment". American Journal of Perinatology. 29 (9): 665–72. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1316444. PMID 22773279.
- Romero R, Stanczyk FZ (June 2013). "Progesterone is not the same as 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate: implications for obstetrical practice". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 208 (6): 421–6. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2013.04.027. PMC 4120746. PMID 23643669.
- Feghali M, Venkataramanan R, Caritis S (December 2014). "Prevention of preterm delivery with 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate: pharmacologic considerations". Seminars in Perinatology. 38 (8): 516–22. doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2014.08.013. PMC 4253874. PMID 25256193.
- Saccone G, Suhag A, Berghella V (July 2015). "17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate for maintenance tocolysis: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized trials". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 213 (1): 16–22. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2015.01.054. PMID 25659469.
- O'Brien JM, Lewis DF (January 2016). "Prevention of preterm birth with vaginal progesterone or 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate: a critical examination of efficacy and safety". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 214 (1): 45–56. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2015.10.934. PMID 26558340.
- Caritis SN, Feghali MN, Grobman WA, Rouse DJ (August 2016). "What we have learned about the role of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in the prevention of preterm birth". Seminars in Perinatology. 40 (5): 273–80. doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2016.03.002. PMC 4983195. PMID 27105940.
- Saccone G, Khalifeh A, Elimian A, Bahrami E, Chaman-Ara K, Bahrami MA, Berghella V (March 2017). "Vaginal progesterone vs intramuscular 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate for prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth in singleton gestations: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 49 (3): 315–321. doi:10.1002/uog.17245. PMID 27546354.
- Oler E, Eke AC, Hesson A (July 2017). "Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate and vaginal progesterone for the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm delivery". International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 138 (1): 12–16. doi:10.1002/ijgo.12166. PMID 28369874.
- Manuck TA (December 2017). "17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for preterm birth prevention: Where have we been, how did we get here, and where are we going?". Seminars in Perinatology. 41 (8): 461–467. doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2017.08.004. PMID 28947068.