medroxyprogesterone

Trade name: provera

Small moleculeapproved

Approved

Jun 18, 1959

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (INN, USAN, BAN), also known as 17α-hydroxy-6α-methylprogesterone acetate, and commonly abbreviated as MPA, is a steroidal progestin, a synthetic variant of the human hormone progesterone. Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) administered orally or parenterally in the recommended doses to women with adequate endogenous estrogen, transforms proliferative into secretory endometrium. Androgenic and anabolic effects have been noted, but the drug is apparently devoid of significant estrogenic activity. While parenterally administered MPA inhibits gonadotropin production, which in turn prevents follicular maturation and ovulation, available data indicate that this does not occur when the usually recommended oral dosage is given as single daily doses. MPA is a more potent derivative of its parent compound medroxyprogesterone (MP). While medroxyprogesterone is sometimes used as a synonym for medroxyprogesterone acetate, what is normally being administered is MPA and not MP. Used as a contraceptive and to treat secondary amenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, pain associated with endometriosis, endometrial and renal cell carcinomas, paraphilia in males, GnRH-dependent forms of precocious puberty, as well as to prevent endometrial changes associated with estrogens. Progestins diffuse freely into target cells in the female reproductive tract, mammary gland, hypothalamus, and the pituitary and bind to the progesterone receptor. Once bound to the receptor, progestins slow the frequency of release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus and blunt the pre-ovulatory LH surge. — NCATS

Clinical trial activity

136 trials · 166 clinical orgs · 22 marketing orgs

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Earliest trial started Sep 1, 1987 (NCT00000466)

Timeline

1950s

Jun 18, 1959
Pharmacia & Upjohn — Earliest FDA Approval
Jun 18, 1959
Pharmacia & Upjohn — NDA Secondary Org
Jun 18, 1959
Pfizer — Marketing Organization
Jun 18, 1959
Pharmacia & Upjohn — NDA Organization
Jun 18, 1959
Pfizer — NDA Secondary Org

1970s

May 15, 1974
Amarin — Marketing Organization
Apr 28, 1978
Solvay — Marketing Organization

1980s

Jul 26, 1984
Upsher-Smith Laboratories — Marketing Organization
Jan 1, 1987
Earliest Phase 3 Sponsor(trial)
Sep 9, 1987
American Home Products — Marketing Organization

1990s

Dec 30, 1994
Wyeth — Marketing Organization
Dec 30, 1994
American Home Products — NDA Secondary Org
Aug 9, 1996
Barr Laboratories — Marketing Organization
Jan 1, 1998
Earliest Phase 2 Sponsor(trial)
Dec 1, 1999
Duramed Research — Marketing Organization

2000s

Oct 5, 2000
Pharmacia — NDA Secondary Org
Jan 1, 2002
Teva — Earliest Phase 1 Sponsor(trial)
Jul 28, 2004
Teva — Marketing Organization
Jul 28, 2004
Eu Yan Sang — Marketing Organization
May 20, 2009
Sandoz — Marketing Organization
May 20, 2009
Novartis — Marketing Organization

2010s

Nov 28, 2017
Amphastar Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization
Oct 12, 2018
Mylan — Marketing Organization
Oct 12, 2018
Exeltis — Marketing Organization
Jan 25, 2019
Cipla — Marketing Organization
Apr 24, 2019
Sun Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

2020s

Aug 22, 2022
Eugia Pharma — Marketing Organization
Jan 5, 2023
Hikma — Marketing Organization
Jun 7, 2023
Amneal Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

Indications

Approved for

Studied for

Mechanism of action

Progesterone receptorAGONIST
PGR agonist
- Progesterone receptor (PGR) ↗

Combination products

lunelle
with estradiol
premphase (premarin;cycrin 14/14)
with conjugated equine estrogens
Also known as premphase, prempro, prempro (premarin;cycrin)

Approval history

approvedJun 18, 1959

Chemistry & pharmacology

Loading structure…

SMILES

C[C@H]1C[C@H]2[C@@H]3CC[C@](O)(C(C)=O)[C@@]3(C)CC[C@@H]2[C@@]4(C)CCC(=O)C=C14

Mol. weight: 344.4877 g/mol
Lipinski Ro5: Pass
Rule of 3: No
Chirality: Single Stereoisomer
Inorganic: No
Polymer: No
Delivery: Oral, Parenteral
Availability: Prescription Only

Oral

Yes

Parenteral

Yes

Topical

Black box warning

Sources

Also known as

17-acetoxy-6alpha-methylprogesterone
17-acetoxy-6alpha-methylprogesterone
17-acetoxy-6α-methylprogesterone
17-acetoxy-6α-methylprogesterone
17alpha-hydroxy-6alpha-methylprogesterone
17alpha-hydroxy-6alpha-methylprogesterone acetate
17alpha-hydroxy-6alpha-methylprogesterone acetate
17α-hydroxy-6α-methylprogesterone acetate
17α-hydroxy-6α-methylprogesterone acetate
520-85-4
(6alpha)-17-(acetyloxy)-6-methylpreg-4-ene-3,20-dione
(6alpha)-17-(acetyloxy)-6-methylpreg-4-ene-3,20-dione
(6alpha)-17-hydroxy-6-methylpregn-4-ene-3,20-dione
6alpha-methyl-17-acetoxy progesterone
6alpha-methyl-17-acetoxy progesterone
6-alpha-methyl-17-alpha-acetoxyprogesterone
6-alpha-methyl-17-alpha-acetoxyprogesterone
6alpha-methyl-17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone
6-alpha-methyl-17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone acetate
6-alpha-methyl-17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone acetate
6alpha-methyl-17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone acetate
6alpha-methyl-17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone acetate
6alpha-methyl-4-pregnen-17alpha-ol-3,20-dione
6alpha-methyl-4-pregnene-3,20-dion-17alpha-ol acetate
6alpha-methyl-4-pregnene-3,20-dion-17alpha-ol acetate
6α-methyl-17-acetoxy progesterone
6α-methyl-17-acetoxy progesterone
6α-methyl-17α-hydroxyprogesterone acetate
6α-methyl-17α-hydroxyprogesterone acetate
adgyn medro
adgyn medro
amen
amen
climanor
curretab
curretab
cycloprovera
cycrin
cycrin
depomedroxyprogesterone acetate
depo-progevera
depo-progevera
depo-provera
depo-provera
depo-provera oncology
depo-subq provera 104
depo-subq provera 104
farlutal
farlutal
farlutal 100
farlutal 200
farlutal 250
farlutal 500
lunelle
lunelle
medoxyprogesterone
medroprogesterone acetate
medroxiprogesterone acetate
medroxiprogesterone acetate
medroxyacetate progesterone
medroxyacetate progesterone
medroxyprogesteron
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone
medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate
medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate
medroxy progesterone acetate
medroxyprogesterone acetate
medroxyprogesterone acetate
medroxyprogesterone acetate
medroxyprogesterone acetate
medroxyprogesterone acetate
medroxyprogesterone acetate
medroxyprogesterone acetate
medroxyprogesterone progesterone acetate
medroxyprogeterone acetate
methylacetoxyprogesterone
methylacetoxyprogesterone
metigestrona
metigestrona
mpa
mpa
provera
provera
provera
provera dosepak
sayana press
tv-46046

Clinical trials

NCT ID	Phase	Start date	Sponsor(s)
NCT06904274	Phase 3	Dec 1, 2025	Bayer
NCT06816901	Phase 4	Mar 31, 2025	Government of Nepal, University of California, San Diego
NCT06549855	N/A	Oct 31, 2024	Capital Medical University, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Peking University, Shandong University, Shengjing Hospital, Tianjin Medical University
NCT06637189	Phase 4	Oct 15, 2024	Ginefiv, Theramex
NCT06468215	N/A	Jul 31, 2024	Peking University
NCT06145438	Phase 3	Sep 4, 2023	Diponegoro University
NCT05760144	Early Phase 1 (Phase 1)	Jul 1, 2023	Oregon Health and Science University
NCT05973253	Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)	Apr 21, 2023	Isfahan Ophthalmology Research Center, Isfahan University
NCT05767086	N/A	Mar 15, 2023	Bezmialem University
NCT05675787	Phase 2	Jan 6, 2023	Peking University
NCT05726903	Phase 4	Dec 6, 2022	University of Colorado, Denver
NCT05565573	Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)	Nov 1, 2022	Capital Medical University
NCT05505435	Phase 4	Aug 31, 2022	Northwestern University, Society of Family Planning
NCT05491343	Phase 4	Aug 31, 2022	Emek Medical Center
NCT05247268	Phase 2	Mar 11, 2022	Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Fudan University
NCT04997811	Phase 2	Dec 31, 2021	Blood Cancer UK, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, University of Birmingham, University of London, University of Manchester, University of Warwick
NCT04669678	Phase 4	Nov 17, 2021	Merck, University of Alabama, Birmingham, University of Washington, Wits University
NCT05255653	Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)	Nov 11, 2021	AstraZeneca, Barts & The London NHS Trust, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Cancer Research UK, Dutch Cancer Society, Leiden University, National Cancer Institute, France, Netherlands Cancer Institute, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto
NCT05044962	N/A	Oct 31, 2021	AMPATH, Indiana University, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), University of Nebraska, University of Washington
NCT04910711	Phase 4	Oct 1, 2021	Botswana Harvard Aids Institute, University of Liverpool

Showing 20 of 136 trials

Page 1 / 7

Organizations

Research & Development (166)

Organization	Org type	Trials	As lead sponsor	Phases	Earliest year
FHI 360	Academic/Hospital	11	8	4	2010
National Institutes of Health (NIH)	Government	11	2	4	1987
Pfizer	For profit	8	6	4	1998
National Cancer Institute (NCI)	Government	7	3	2	1997
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)	Government	7	2	3	1999
University of Washington	Academic/Hospital	7	6	4	2004
Johns Hopkins University	Academic/Hospital	6	2	4	1996
Society of Family Planning	Academic/Hospital	5	0	4	2011
Columbia University	Academic/Hospital	4	2	2	2007
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)	Government	4	3	1	1987
Teva	For profit	4	4	1	2002
Wyeth	For profit	4	0	2	1992
Assiut University	Academic/Hospital	3	3	2	2016
Bayer	For profit	3	2	2	2006
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation	Academic/Hospital	3	0	2	2012
Chulalongkorn University	Academic/Hospital	3	3	2	2015
CONRAD	For profit	3	1	3	2004
Gynecologic Oncology Group	Academic/Hospital	3	3	1	1998
Harvard University	Academic/Hospital	3	1	3	1997
National Institute on Aging (NIA)	Government	3	0	2	1987

166 organizations

Page 1 / 9

Marketing (28)

Organization	Org type	Relationship	Date
Amarin	For profit	MKTG	May 15, 1974
American Home Products	For profit	MKTG	Sep 9, 1987
American Home Products	For profit	NDA2	Dec 30, 1994
Amneal Pharmaceuticals	For profit	MKTG	Jun 7, 2023
Amphastar Pharmaceuticals	For profit	MKTG	Nov 28, 2017
Barr Laboratories	For profit	MKTG	Aug 9, 1996
Cipla	For profit	MKTG	Jan 25, 2019
Duramed Research	For profit	MKTG	Dec 1, 1999
Eu Yan Sang	For profit	MKTG	Jul 28, 2004
Eugia Pharma	For profit	MKTG	Aug 22, 2022
Exeltis	For profit	MKTG	Oct 12, 2018
Hikma	For profit	MKTG	Jan 5, 2023
Mylan	For profit	MKTG	Oct 12, 2018
Novartis	For profit	MKTG	May 20, 2009
Pfizer	For profit	MKTG	Jun 18, 1959
Pfizer	For profit	NDA2	Jun 18, 1959
Pharmacia	For profit	NDA2	Oct 5, 2000
Pharmacia & Upjohn	For profit	NDA2	Jun 18, 1959
Pharmacia & Upjohn	For profit	NDA	Jun 18, 1959
Sandoz	For profit	MKTG	May 20, 2009
Sandoz	For profit	SYN	May 20, 2009
Solvay	For profit	MKTG	Apr 28, 1978
Sun Pharmaceuticals	For profit	MKTG	Apr 24, 2019
Teva	For profit	MKTG	Jul 28, 2004
Upsher-Smith Laboratories	For profit	MKTG	Jul 26, 1984
Upsher-Smith Laboratories	For profit	SYN	Jul 26, 1984
Wyeth	For profit	SYN	Nov 17, 1995
Wyeth	For profit	MKTG	Dec 30, 1994