Avodart (Dutasteride 0.5 mg) vs Propecia
GI198745 or Dutasteride as we now call it is a new drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline to treat BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) and MPB, Male Pattern Baldness.
SinceDHT is the cause of both of these conditions, the drug works by preventing the DHT from being created in the first place. The 5 alpha reductase enzyme is responsible for turning Testosterone in Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and the drug works by preventing this chemical change from taking place.
The reason why this drug is so important is that it inhibits both 5-AR type 1 and 5 AR type 2, unlike Propecia (Finasteride), which inhibits just type 2.
It is believed that type 1 is still responsible for about 20% of the DHT that is not eliminated by Propecia and may be the reason why some men do not respond to Propecia, which only inhibits type 2. |