Compounds of structural formula I are modulators of the androgen receptor
(AR) in a tissue selective manner. They are useful as agonists of the
androgen receptor in bone and/or muscle tissue while antagonizing the AR
in the prostate of a male patient or in the uterus of a female patient.
These compounds are therefore useful in the treatment of conditions
caused by androgen deficiency or which can be ameliorated by androgen
administration, including osteoporosis, osteopenia,
glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, periodontal disease, bone fracture,
bone damage following bone reconstructive surgery, sarcopenia, frailty,
aging skin, male hypogonadism, postmenopausal symptoms in women,
atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, obesity, aplastic
anemia and other hematopoietic disorders, inflammatory arthritis and
joint repair, HIV-wasting, prostate cancer, cancer cachexia, muscular
dystrophies, premature ovarian failure, and autoimmune disease, alone or
in combination with other active agents.
