Cyproterone acetate

Cyproterone acetate	Last updated: 16/09/2025
(Also known as: CPA; cyproterone 17-O-acetate)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A 17-hydroxyprogesterone acetate derivative with strong progestagenic properties and which has veterinary applications

Examples of veterinary uses

Used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and reducing aggressive or antisocial behaviour

Examples of species treated

Dogs; Cats

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

Not approved

EU Regulatory approval status

Not approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₂₄H₂₉ClO₄

Canonical SMILES

[H][C@@]12C[C@]1([H])[C@@]1(C)C(=CC2=O)C(Cl)=C[C@@]2([H])[C@]3([H])CC[C@](OC(C)=O)(C(C)=O)[C@@]3(C)CC[C@]12[H]

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

UWFYSQMTEOIJJG-FDTZYFLXSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C24H29ClO4/c1-12(26)24(29-13(2)27)8-6-16-14-10-20(25)19-11-21(28)15-9-18(15)23(19,4)17(14)5-7-22(16,24)3/h10-11,14-18H,5-9H2,1-4H3/t14-,15+,16-,17-,18-,22-,23-,24-/m0/s1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
cyproterone acetate	-
cyproterone	Parent

General status

Veterinary substance type

Medininal drug

Substance groups

Pregnane steroid

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

It suppresses the actions of testosterone (and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone) on tissues

Molecular targets

[Androgen receptor, Antagonist], [Prostate-specific antigens]

CAS RN

427-51-0

EC number

207-048-3

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

9880

Therapeutic Class

Genito urinary system and sex hormones

ATCvet Code

G03HA01

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Molecular mass

416.94

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

(1S,2S,3S,5R,11R,12S,15R,16S)-15-acetyl-9-chloro-2,16-dimethyl-6-oxopentacyclo[9.7.0.0^{2,8}.0^{3,5}.0^{12,16}]octadeca-7,9-dien-15-yl acetate

CAS name

Forever chemical

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

Solid

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1962, clinical effects discovered; 1980s, vet applications explored

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Bayer

Example products using this active

Androcur
Diane-35
Climen

Formulation and application details

In veterinary research contexts, it has been administered orally in capsule form

Commercial production

The synthesis of cyproterone acetate involves a multi-step chemical and biocatalytic process starting from steroidal precursors such as 4-androstene-3,17-dione. One advanced method uses continuous flow chemistry to streamline the production into a 10-step sequence. Key transformations include enzymatic 1-dehydrogenation to introduce a double bond in the A-ring, stereoselective Mukaiyama hydration to form the crucial C17alpha-hydroxyl group, and Corey–Chaykovsky cyclopropanation to construct the cyclopropyl moiety on the A-ring. These steps are integrated into a telescoped flow system that enhances stereocontrol, reduces reaction time, and improves overall yield and sustainability compared to traditional batch synthesis. The final step involves acetylation at the C17 position to yield cyproterone acetate.

Impact on climate of production and use

Published GHG data is not available for most pharmaceuticals. However, according to industry, global averages suggest producing 1 kg of a typical active pharmaceutical ingredient can range from 10 to 100 kg CO₂e for small molecule drugs and potentially up to 1000 kg CO₂e for complex biologicals such as vaccines, depending on the drug type, its formulation, complexity of synthesis, solvent recovery, and energy sources used.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

50000

Methanol

10000

Ethanol

83000

DMSO

Melting point (°C)

200

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

1.26 X 10⁰³

Calculated

Log P

3.1

High

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Refractive Index

Environmental release

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Literature gives soil DT₅₀ as 135-217 hours depending on soil type

Manure DT₅₀ (days)

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known soil and groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

15beta-hydroxycyproterone acetate

Humans (Liver)

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 5000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ dw soil)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹ dw soil)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

0.16

Pimephales promelas

Moderate

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

2.1

Daphnia magna

Moderate

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic Plants (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 5000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Occupational

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Excreted around 60% in the bile and 33% through the kidneys.

Health issues

Specific human health issues (hazard-based)

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

CLP data: suspected carcinogen

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Incompatible with trong oxidising agents
Avoid generation of dusts

CLP classification 2013

Health: H312, H332, H351, H360, H373

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Not regulated

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

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Name

English

cyproterone acetate

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Swedish

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Record last updated:	16/09/2025
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242