Discovery and therapeutic promise of selective androgen receptor modulators

Mol Interv. 2005 Jun;5(3):173-88. doi: 10.1124/mi.5.3.7.

Abstract

Androgens are essential for male development and the maintenance of male secondary characteristics, such as bone mass, muscle mass, body composition, and spermatogenesis. The main disadvantages of steroidal androgens are their undesirable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. The recent discovery of nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) provides a promising alternative for testosterone replacement therapies with advantages including oral bioavailability, flexibility of structural modification, androgen receptor specificity, tissue selectivity, and the lack of steroid-related side effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists*
  • Androgens / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Drug Design*
  • Hormone Antagonists / chemistry
  • Hormone Antagonists / metabolism
  • Hormone Antagonists / pharmacokinetics
  • Hormone Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists
  • Androgens
  • Hormone Antagonists
  • Receptors, Androgen