Consumer medicine information

Finapen

Finasteride

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Finapen

Active ingredient

Finasteride

Schedule

S4

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Finapen.

SUMMARY CMI

Finapen

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary

The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

1. Why am I using Finapen?

Finapen contains the active ingredient finasteride. Finapen is used to treat men with male pattern hair loss to increase hair growth on the scalp and to prevent further hair loss.

For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Finapen? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before I use Finapen?

Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Finapen or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.

Finapen is for use in men only. Do not give Finapen to children or women.

Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use Finapen? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with Finapen and affect how it works.

A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

4. How do I use Finapen?

  • The dose is one tablet taken once each day

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use Finapen? in the full CMI.

5. What should I know while using Finapen?

Things you should do
  • Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Finapen.
Things you should not do
  • Do not give Finapen to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you
Driving or using machines
  • Finapen should not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery
Drinking alcohol
  • n/a
Looking after your medicine
  • Keep Finapen in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while using Finapen? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

Common side effects include difficulty achieving an erection or less desire for sex, that continues after stopping Finapen.

Serious side effects include allergic reactions, breast swelling, tenderness, lumps or pain, discharge from the nipples, male breast cancer, hives or nettle rash, skin rash or itchiness, testicle pain, blood in the semen and depression.

For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.



FULL CMI

Finapen

Active ingredient(s): Finasteride

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Finapen. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Finapen.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using Finapen?
2. What should I know before I use Finapen?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Finapen?
5. What should I know while using Finapen?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using Finapen?

Finapen contains the active ingredient finasteride. Finapen is for use by men only.

Finapen is used to treat men with male pattern hair loss to increase hair growth on the scalp and to prevent further hair loss.

Male pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia) is a common condition in which men experience thinning of the hair on the scalp. This often results in a receding hair line and/or balding on the top of the head. These changes typically start to occur in some men in their 20s and become more common with age. Once hair loss has occurred over a long period of time, the hair may be permanently lost.

Male pattern hair loss is thought to be caused by a combination of family history (heredity) and production of a particular male hormone, called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Men with male pattern hair loss have more DHT in the balding part of their scalp than in other parts, resulting in increased hair loss.

How Finapen works

FINAPEN specifically lowers the levels of DHT in the scalp, thus helping to reverse the balding process.

FINAPEN does not affect hair on other parts of the body.

Men with mild to moderate, but not complete, hair loss can expect to benefit from the use of FINAPEN. In women who were studied, FINAPEN was not effective in the treatment of hair loss (androgenetic alopecia).

There should be no need to change your usual hair care routine (for example, shampooing or haircuts) because you are taking FINAPEN.

2. What should I know before I use Finapen?

Warnings

Do not use Finapen if:

  • you are allergic to finasteride or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to FINAPEN may include skin rash, or swelling of the lips or face.
  • Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
  • the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering

Check with your doctor if you:

  • have any other medical
  • take any medicines for any other condition
  • have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Women who are pregnant or may be pregnant must not take FINAPEN, handle crushed or broken tablets or handle tablets with wet hands.

If the active ingredient in FINAPEN is absorbed after swallowing the tablet or through the skin by a woman who is pregnant with a male baby, it may cause the male baby to be born with abnormalities of the sex organs.

Whole tablets are coated to prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets haven't been crushed or broken.

If a pregnant woman swallows FINAPEN, handles crushed or broken tablets or handles tablets with wet hands, her doctor must be consulted immediately.

Women and children

  • Do not give FINAPEN to children or women.
  • FINAPEN is for use by men only.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may affect the way other medicines work.

However, FINAPEN has not been shown to interfere with other medicines.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Finapen.

4. How do I use Finapen?

How much to take

  • Take FINAPEN only when prescribed by your doctor.
  • The dose is one tablet taken once each day.
  • FINAPEN will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day.
  • Male pattern hair loss is a condition that develops over a long period of time. Because it takes time for new hair to grow, you will not see immediate results. In general, daily use for 3 months or more may be necessary before you notice increased hair growth or prevention of further loss.
  • If you stop taking the tablets your hair loss is likely to resume
  • Follow the instructions provided and use Finapen until your doctor tells you to stop.

When to take / use Finapen

  • It does not matter if you take FINAPEN before or after food. Swallow with a glass of water

If you forget to take Finapen

Finapen should be used regularly at the same time each day. If you miss your dose at the usual time, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablet as you would normally.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you use too much Finapen

If you think that you have used too much Finapen, you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

  • phone the Poisons Information Centre
    (by calling 13 11 26), or
  • contact your doctor, or
  • go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know while using Finapen?

Things you should do

Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Finapen.

Things you should not do

  • Do not give FINAPEN to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Driving or using machines

Finapen should not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Drinking alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

Looking after your medicine

  • Keep FINAPEN in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
  • Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
  • Never put the tablets in another box or container, as they might get mixed up.

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

  • in the bathroom or near a sink, or
  • in the car or on window sills.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effectsWhat to do
  • difficulty in achieving an erection that continues after stopping FINAPEN
  • less desire for sex that continued after stopping FINAPEN
  • decreased amount of semen released during sex (this decrease does not appear to interfere with normal sexual function).
    It is important to understand that, in clinical trials, these unwanted effects disappeared in men who stopped taking FINAPEN, as well as in many men who continued treatment. Problems with ejaculation that continue after stopping medication have been reported infrequently.
  • Male infertility and/or poor quality of semen have been reported infrequently. Improvement in the quality of semen has been reported after stopping FINAPEN.
Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

Serious side effects

Serious side effectsWhat to do
  • swelling of the lips, tongue, throat or face
These may be symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to FINAPEN, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.		Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.
You may need urgent medical attention.
  • breast swelling and/or tenderness
  • In rare cases, male breast cancer has been reported.
  • breast lumps, pain or discharge from the nipples.
  • skin rash, itchiness
  • hives or nettlerash (pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin)
  • testicle pain
  • blood in semen
  • depressions (feelings of severe sadness and unworthiness) including suicidal thoughts
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of these serious side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.

What Finapen contains

Active ingredient
(main ingredient)		Finasteride 1mg
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
  • Lactose monohydrate
  • Cellulose microcrystalline
  • Pregelatinised maize starch
  • Lauroyl macrogolglycerides
  • Sodium starch glycollate type A
  • Magnesium stearate
  • Opadry 03F34739 Pink
Potential allergenslactose

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Finapen looks like

Finapen is a reddish brown, round, biconvex, film coated tablet, marked ‘F1’ on one side and plain on the other. (Aust R 189653).

A pack contains 28 tablets.

Who distributes Finapen

Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
15-17 Chapel Street
Cremorne
VIC 3121
Ph: 1800 195 055

This leaflet was prepared in November 2024.

Published by MIMS February 2025

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Finapen

Active ingredient

Finasteride

Schedule

S4

 

1 Name of Medicine

Finasteride.

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Each tablet contains finasteride 1 mg.

List of excipients with known effect.

Contains lactose.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

Finapen comes as a reddish brown, round, biconvex, film-coated tablets, marked 'F1' on one side and plain on the other.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Finapen is indicated for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) to increase hair growth and prevent further hair loss in men 18 years or older. Efficacy has not been demonstrated in men over the age of 41 years.
Finapen is not indicated for use in women (see Section 4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation, Use in pregnancy and Developmental studies) or children.

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

The recommended dosage is one 1 mg tablet daily. Finapen may be taken with or without food.
In general, daily use for 3 months or more is necessary before increased hair growth and/or prevention of further hair loss is observed. Continued use is recommended to obtain maximum benefit.

4.3 Contraindications

Finapen is contraindicated in the following. See Section 4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation.
Hypersensitivity to any component of this product.
Finapen is not indicated for use in women or children.

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Identified precautions.

In clinical studies with finasteride in men 18-41 years of age, the mean value of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) decreased from 0.7 nanogram/mL at baseline to 0.5 nanogram/mL at month 12. When finasteride is used for treatment of male pattern hair loss in older men who also have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), consideration should be given to the fact that, in older men with BPH, PSA levels are decreased by approximately 50%.

Increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer.

Men aged 55 and over with a normal digital rectal examination and PSA ≤ 3.0 nanogram/mL at baseline taking finasteride 5 mg/day (5 times the dose of finasteride) in the 7-year Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) had an increased risk of Gleason score 8-10 prostate cancer (finasteride 1.8% vs placebo 1.1%) (see Section 4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)). Similar results were observed in a 4-year placebo-controlled clinical trial with another 5α-reductase inhibitor (dutasteride). 5α-reductase inhibitors may increase the risk of development of high-grade prostate cancer. Whether the effect of 5α-reductase inhibitors to reduce prostate volume, or study-related factors, impacted the results of these studies has not been established.

Use in the elderly.

Clinical studies with Finapen have not been conducted in elderly men with male pattern hair loss.

Paediatric use.

Finapen is not indicated for use in children.

Effects on laboratory tests.

No data available.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

No medicine interactions of clinical importance have been identified. Compounds that have been tested in man have included antipyrine, digoxin, glyburide, propranolol, theophylline, and warfarin and no interactions were found. Increases in P450 medicine metabolising activity were observed in animal studies (in rats, mice and dogs) receiving doses of > 80, 250 and 45 mg/kg/day respectively. Finasteride is metabolised primarily via, but does not affect, the cytochrome P450 3A4 system. Although the risk for finasteride to affect the pharmacokinetics of other medicines is estimated to be small, it is probable that inhibitors and inducers of cytochrome P450 3A4 will affect the plasma concentration of finasteride. However, based on established safety margins, any increase due to concomitant use of such inhibitors is unlikely to be of clinical significance.
Although specific interaction studies were not performed, in clinical studies finasteride doses of 1 mg or more were used concomitantly with ACE inhibitors, paracetamol, alpha blockers, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, cardiac nitrates, diuretics, H2 antagonists, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors (NSAIDs), and quinolones, without evidence of clinically significant adverse interactions.

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility.

Oral treatment of male rabbits with finasteride up to 80 mg/kg/day (estimated exposure more than 4000 times that in humans at the recommended dose) did not impair fertility. In male rats, oral treatment for up to 24 or 30 weeks with 80 mg/kg/day (estimated exposure approximately 440 times that in humans at the recommended dose) resulted in an apparent decrease in fertility associated with a significant decrease in weight of seminal vesicles and prostate. All of these effects were reversible within 6 weeks of discontinuation of treatment. This decrease in fertility in rats was secondary to the effect of finasteride on the accessary sex organs, resulting in failure to form a seminal plug, which is essential for fertility in rats, but is not relevant to man.

Developmental studies.

Hypospadias was observed in the male offspring of pregnant rats given finasteride at oral doses ranging from 100 microgram/kg/day to 100 mg/kg/day (≥ 5 times the recommended human dose) at an incidence of 3.6 to 100%. Additionally, pregnant rats produced male offspring with decreased prostatic and seminal vesicular weights, delayed preputial separation, and transient nipple development when given finasteride at oral doses ≥ 30 microgram/kg/day (≥ 1.5 times the recommended human dose), and decreased anogenital distance when given finasteride in oral doses ≥ 3 microgram/kg/day (approximately one-fifth the recommended human dose). The critical period during which these effects can be induced has been defined in male rats as days 16-17 of gestation.
The changes described above are expected pharmacological effects of type II 5α-reductase inhibitors. Many of the changes, such as hypospadias, observed in male rats exposed in utero to finasteride are similar to those reported in male infants with a genetic deficiency of type II α-reductase. No effects were seen in female offspring exposed in utero to any dose of finasteride.
Administration of finasteride to rats during the late gestation and lactation period resulted in slightly decreased fertility in first generation male offspring (3 mg/kg/day). No developmental abnormalities have been observed in first generation male or female offspring resulting from mating finasteride treated male rats (80 mg/kg/day) with untreated females.
No evidence of malformations has been observed in rabbit foetuses exposed to finasteride in utero from days 6-18 of gestation at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day.
The in utero effects of finasteride exposure during the period of embryonic and foetal development were evaluated in the rhesus monkey (gestation days 20-100), a species more predictive of human development than rats or rabbits. Intravenous administration of finasteride to pregnant monkeys at doses up to 800 nanogram/day (at least 750 times the highest estimated amount, on a bodyweight basis, of finasteride in semen to which a pregnant woman might be exposed) resulted in no abnormalities in male foetuses. In confirmation of the relevance of the rhesus model for human foetal development, oral administration of a very high dose of finasteride (2 mg/kg/day; 100 times the recommended human dose or approximately 12 million times the highest estimated amount, on a bodyweight basis, of finasteride in semen to which a pregnant woman might be exposed) to pregnant monkeys resulted in external genital abnormalities in male foetuses. No other abnormalities were observed in male foetuses and no finasteride related abnormalities were observed in female foetuses at any dose.
(Category X)
Category X: Medicines which have such a high risk of causing permanent damage to the foetus that they should not be used in pregnancy or when there is a possibility of pregnancy.
Finapen is contraindicated for use in women when they are or may potentially be pregnant.
Because of the ability of type II 5α-reductase inhibitors to inhibit conversion of testosterone to DHT in some tissues, these medicines, including finasteride, may cause abnormalities of the external genitalia of a male fetus when administered to a pregnant woman.
Women who are or may potentially be pregnant should not handle crushed or broken tablets of Finapen, or handle tablets with wet hands, because of the possibility of absorption of finasteride and the subsequent potential risk to a male foetus. Whole tablets are coated to prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling.
 Finapen is not indicated for use in women and should not be used by lactating women.
It is not known whether finasteride is excreted in human milk.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

There are no data to suggest that finasteride affects the ability to drive or use machines.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

Finapen is generally well tolerated. Side effects, which usually have been mild, generally have not required discontinuation of therapy.

Clinical trial data.

Finasteride for male pattern hair loss has been evaluated for safety in clinical studies involving more than 3200 men. In three 12 month, placebo controlled, double blind, multicentre studies of comparable design, the overall safety profiles of finasteride and placebo were similar.
Discontinuation of therapy due to any clinical adverse experience occurred in 1.7% of 945 men treated with finasteride and 2.1% of 934 men treated with placebo.
Table 1 presents the only clinical adverse effects considered possibly, probably or definitely medicine related by the investigator, for which the incidence on finasteride was ≥ 1% and greater than placebo over the 12 months of the study.
In addition, in the 12 month controlled studies, decreased volume of ejaculate was reported in 0.8% of men treated with finasteride and 0.4% of men treated with placebo. Resolution of these side effects occurred in men who discontinued therapy with finasteride and in many who continued therapy. In a separate study, the effect of finasteride on ejaculate volume was measured and was not different from that seen with placebo.
The incidence of each of the above side effects decreased to ≤ 0.3% by the fifth year of treatment with finasteride.
Table 2 presents the other most common clinical adverse experiences reported in the initial 12 month phase III clinical studies occurring in ≥ 2% of men treated with finasteride or placebo. A causal relationship to treatment with finasteride has not been established.

Breast cancer.

Finasteride has also been studied in men with prostate disease at 5 times the dosage recommended for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. During the 4-to-6-year placebo and comparator-controlled Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms (MTOPS) study that enrolled 3047 men, there were 4 cases of breast cancer in men treated with finasteride 5 mg, but no cases in men not treated with finasteride 5 mg. During the 4-year, placebo-controlled PLESS study that enrolled 3040 men, there were 2 cases of breast cancer in placebo-treated men, but no cases in men treated with finasteride 5 mg. During the 7-year placebo controlled Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) that enrolled 18,882 men, there was 1 case of breast cancer in men treated with finasteride, and 1 case of breast cancer in men treated with placebo. There have been post-marketing reports of male breast cancer with the use of finasteride 1 mg and 5 mg. The relationship between long-term use of finasteride and male breast neoplasia is currently unknown.

Long-term studies with finasteride 5 mg.

The PCPT trial was a 7-year randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 18,882 men ≥ 55 years of age with a normal digital rectal examination and a PSA ≤ 3.0 nanogram/mL. Men received either finasteride 5 mg or placebo daily. Patients were evaluated annually with PSA and digital rectal exams. Biopsies were performed for elevated PSA, an abnormal digital rectal exam, or the end of study. The incidence of Gleason score 8-10 prostate cancer was higher in men treated with finasteride (1.8%) than in those treated with placebo (1.1%). In a 4-year placebo-controlled clinical trial with another 5α-reductase inhibitor (dutasteride), similar results for Gleason score 8-10 prostate cancer were observed. The clinical significance of these findings with respect to use of Propecia by men is unknown.
No clinical benefit has been demonstrated in patients with prostate cancer treated with finasteride.

Post marketing experience.

The following adverse experiences have been reported in post marketing use. As these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate the frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Immune system disorders.

Hypersensitivity effects including rash, pruritus, urticaria and angioedema (including swelling of the lips, tongue, throat and face).

Psychiatric disorders.

Depression; decreased libido that continued after discontinuation of treatment, suicidal ideation.

Reproductive system and breast disorders.

Sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorder) that continued after discontinuation of treatment; breast tenderness and enlargement; male breast cancer; testicular pain, male infertility and/or poor seminal quality. Normalisation or improvement of seminal quality has been reported after discontinuation of finasteride.

Reporting suspected adverse effects.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.

4.9 Overdose

In clinical studies, single doses of finasteride up to 400 mg and multiple doses of finasteride up to 80 mg/day for three months did not result in side effects.
No specific treatment for overdosage with Finapen is recommended.
For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (Australia).

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Mechanism of action.

Finasteride is a competitive and specific inhibitor of type II 5α-reductase with which it slowly forms a stable enzyme complex. Turnover from this complex is extremely slow (t1/2 ~ 30 days). Finasteride has no affinity for the androgen receptor and has no androgenic, antiandrogenic, oestrogenic, antioestrogenic, or progestational effects. Inhibition of this enzyme blocks the peripheral conversion of testosterone to the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), resulting in significant decreases in serum and tissue DHT concentrations. Finasteride produces a rapid reduction in serum DHT concentration, reaching significant suppression within 24 hours of dosing.
Hair follicles contain type II 5α-reductase. In men with male pattern hair loss, the balding scalp contains miniaturised hair follicles and increased amounts of DHT. Administration of finasteride decreases scalp and serum DHT concentrations in these men. In addition, men with a genetic deficiency of type II 5α-reductase do not suffer from male pattern hair loss. These data and the results of the clinical studies confirm that finasteride inhibits the process responsible for miniaturisation of the scalp hair follicles, leading to reversal of the balding process.
Finasteride had no effect on circulating levels of cortisol, oestradiol, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, or thyroxine, nor did it affect the plasma lipid profile (e.g. total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, high density lipoproteins, and triglycerides) or bone mineral density. In studies with finasteride, no clinically meaningful changes in luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were detected. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulated levels of LH or FSH were not altered, indicating that regulatory control of the hypothalamic pituitary testicular axis was not affected. There was no effect on semen parameters in men treated with finasteride 1 mg/day for 48 weeks.
Finasteride appeared to inhibit both C19 and C21 steroid metabolism and hence appeared to have an inhibitory effect on both hepatic and peripheral type II 5α-reductase activity. The serum DHT metabolites androstenediol glucuronide and androsterone glucuronide were also significantly reduced. This metabolic pattern is similar to that observed in individuals with a genetic deficiency of type II 5α-reductase who have markedly decreased levels of DHT and who do not suffer from male pattern hair loss.

Clinical trials.

Studies in men.

The efficacy of finasteride was demonstrated in men (88% Caucasian) with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) between 18 and 41 years of age. There were three double blind, randomised, placebo controlled studies of 12 month duration. The two primary endpoints were hair count and patient self assessment; the two secondary endpoints were investigator assessment and ratings of photographs. The three studies were conducted in 1879 men with mild to moderate, but not complete, hair loss. Two of the studies enrolled men with predominantly mild to moderate vertex hair loss (n = 1553). The third enrolled men having mild to moderate hair loss in the anterior mid-scalp area with or without vertex balding (n = 326).

Two studies on vertex baldness.

Of the men who completed the first 12 months of the two vertex baldness trials, 1215 elected to continue in double blind, placebo controlled, 12 month extension studies. There were 547 men receiving finasteride for both the initial study and first extension periods (up to 2 years of treatment) and 60 men receiving placebo for the same periods. The extension studies were continued for 3 additional years, with 323 men on finasteride and 23 on placebo entering the fifth year of the study.
In order to evaluate the effect of discontinuation of therapy, there were 65 men who received finasteride for the initial 12 months followed by placebo in the first 12 month extension period. Some of these men continued in additional extension studies and were switched back to treatment with finasteride, with 32 men entering the fifth year of the study. Lastly, there were 543 men who received placebo for the initial 12 months followed by finasteride in the first 12 month extension period. Some of these men continued in additional extension studies receiving finasteride, with 290 men entering the fifth year of the study (see Figure 1).
Hair counts were assessed by photographic enlargements of a representative area of active hair loss. In these two studies in men with vertex baldness, significant increases in hair count were demonstrated at 6 and 12 months in men treated with finasteride, while significant hair loss from baseline was demonstrated in those treated with placebo. At 12 months there was a 107 hair difference from placebo (p < 0.001, finasteride [n = 679 evaluable men] vs placebo [n = 672 evaluable men]) within a 1 inch diameter circle (5.1 cm2). Hair count was maintained in those men taking finasteride for up to 2 years resulting in a 138 hair difference between treatment groups (p < 0.001, finasteride [n = 433 evaluable men] vs placebo [n = 47 evaluable men]) within the same area. In men treated with finasteride, the maximum improvement in hair count compared to baseline was achieved during the first two years, and hair count was maintained above baseline throughout the 5 years of the studies. The difference between treatment groups also continued to increase throughout the studies, resulting in a 277 hair difference (p < 0.001, finasteride [n = 219 evaluable men] vs placebo [n = 15 evaluable men]) at 5 years. Thus, compared to baseline, hair loss did not progress further in the majority of men treated with finasteride; in contrast, hair loss progressively worsened in all men in the placebo group (see Figure 1).
Patients who switched from placebo to finasteride (n = 426 evaluable men) had a decrease in hair count at the end of the initial 12 month placebo period, followed by an increase in hair count after 1 year of treatment with finasteride. This increase in hair count was less (56 hairs above original baseline) than the increase (91 hairs above original baseline) observed after 1 year of treatment in men initially randomised to finasteride. Although the increase in hair count, relative to when therapy was initiated, was comparable between these two groups, a higher absolute hair count was achieved in patients who were started on treatment with finasteride in the initial study. This advantage was maintained throughout the 5 years of the studies. A change of treatment from finasteride tablets 1 mg to placebo (n = 48 evaluable men) at the end of the initial 12 months resulted in reversal of the increase in hair count 12 months later, at 24 months (see Figure 1).
At 12 months, 58% of men in the placebo group had further hair loss (defined as any decrease in hair count from baseline) compared with 14% of men treated with finasteride. In men treated for up to 2 years, 72% of men in the placebo group demonstrated hair loss, compared with 17% of men treated with finasteride tablets 1 mg. At 5 years, 100% of men in the placebo group demonstrated hair loss, compared with only 35% of men treated with finasteride.
Patient self assessment was obtained at each clinic visit from a self administered questionnaire, this included questions on their perception of hair growth, hair loss, and appearance. This self assessment demonstrated an increase in amount of hair, a decrease in hair loss, and improvement in appearance in men treated with finasteride. Overall improvement compared with placebo was seen as early as 3 months (p < 0.05), with continued improvement over 5 years.
Investigator assessment was based on a 7 point scale evaluating increases or decreases in scalp hair at each patient visit. This assessment showed significantly greater increases in hair growth in men treated with finasteride compared with placebo as early as 3 months (p < 0.001). At 12 months, the investigators rated 65% of men treated with finasteride as having increased hair growth compared with 37% in the placebo group. At 2 years, the investigators rated 80% of men treated with finasteride tablets 1 mg as having increased hair growth compared with 47% of men treated with placebo. At 5 years, the investigators rated 77% of men treated with finasteride as having increased hair growth, compared with 15% of men treated in the placebo group.
An independent panel rated standardised photographs of the head in a blinded fashion based on increases or decreases in scalp hair, using the same 7 point scale as the investigator assessment. At 12 months, 48% of men treated with finasteride had an increase as compared with 7% of men treated with placebo. At 2 years, an increase in hair growth was demonstrated in 66% of men treated with finasteride compared with 7% of men treated with placebo. At 5 years, an increase in hair growth was demonstrated in 48% of men treated with finasteride compared with 6% of men treated with placebo. Based on this assessment, 10% of men treated with finasteride for 5 years were rated as having lost hair, compared with 75% of men in the placebo group. These results demonstrate that 90% of the men treated with finasteride had no further visible progression of hair loss, compared with 25% of men treated with placebo, based on ratings of either no change or increased hair growth.
In one of the two vertex baldness studies, patients were questioned on nonscalp body hair growth. Finasteride did not appear to affect nonscalp body hair.

Study on hair loss in the anterior mid-scalp area.

A study of 12 month duration, designed to assess the efficacy of finasteride in men with hair loss in the anterior mid-scalp area, also demonstrated significant increases in hair count compared with placebo. Increases in hair count were accompanied by improvements in patient self assessment, investigator assessment, and ratings based on standardised photographs. Hair counts were obtained in the anterior mid-scalp area, and did not include the area of bitemporal recession or the anterior hairline.

Phototrichogram study.

A 48 week, placebo controlled study designed to assess the effect of finasteride on the phases of the hair growth cycle (growing phase [anagen] and resting phase [telogen]) in vertex baldness enrolled 212 men with androgenetic alopecia. At baseline and 48 weeks, total, telogen, and anagen hair counts were obtained in a 1 cm2 target area of the scalp. Treatment with finasteride led to improvements in anagen hair counts, while men in the placebo group lost anagen hair. At 48 weeks, men treated with finasteride showed net increases in total and anagen hair counts of 17 hairs (p < 0.001) and 27 hairs (p < 0.001), respectively, compared to placebo. This increase in anagen hair count, compared to total hair count, led to a net improvement in the anagen to telogen ratio of 47% (p < 0.001) at 48 weeks for men treated with finasteride, compared to placebo.

Summary of clinical studies.

Clinical studies were conducted in men aged 18 to 41 with mild to moderate degrees of androgenetic alopecia. Clinical improvement was seen as early as 3 months in the patients treated with finasteride and led to a net increase in scalp hair count and hair regrowth. In clinical studies for up to 5 years, treatment with finasteride prevented the further progression of hair loss observed in the placebo group. In general, the difference between treatment groups continued to increase throughout the 5 years of the studies. There were no studies comparing finasteride with other medicines for androgenetic alopecia.

Ethnic analysis of clinical data.

In a combined analysis of the two studies on vertex baldness, mean hair count changes from baseline were 91 vs -19 hairs (finasteride vs placebo) among Caucasians (n = 1185), 49 vs -27 hairs among North American Blacks (n = 84), 53 vs -38 hairs among Asians (n = 17), 67 vs 5 hairs among North American Hispanics (n = 45) and 67 vs -15 hairs among other ethnic groups (n = 20). Patient self assessment showed improvement across racial groups with finasteride treatment, except for satisfaction of the frontal hairline and vertex in North American Black men, who were satisfied overall.
A sexual function questionnaire was self administered by patients participating in the two vertex baldness trials to detect more subtle changes in sexual function. At month 12, statistically significant differences in favour of placebo were found in 3 of 4 domains (sexual interest, erections, and perception of sexual problems). However, no significant difference was seen in the question on overall satisfaction with sex life.

Studies in women.

Lack of efficacy was demonstrated in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia who were treated with finasteride in a 12 month, placebo controlled study (n = 137). These women showed no improvement in hair count, patient self assessment, investigator assessment, or ratings based on standardised photographs, compared with the placebo group (see Section 4.1 Therapeutic Indications).

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

Absorption.

Relative to an intravenous reference dose, the oral bioavailability of finasteride is approximately 80%. The bioavailability is not affected by food. Maximum finasteride plasma concentrations are reached approximately two hours after dosing and the absorption is complete after 6-8 hours.

Distribution.

Protein binding is approximately 93%. The volume of distribution of finasteride is approximately 76 litres.
There is a modest accumulation of finasteride in plasma after multiple dosing. At steady state following dosing with 1 mg/day, maximum finasteride plasma concentration averaged 9.2 nanogram/mL and was reached 1 to 2 hours postdose; AUC(0-24 hr) was 53 nanogram.hr/mL.
Finasteride has been recovered in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but the medicine does not appear to concentrate preferentially to the CSF. A very small amount of finasteride has also been detected in the seminal fluid of subjects receiving finasteride.

Metabolism.

Finasteride is metabolised primarily via the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme subfamily. Following an oral dose of 14C-finasteride in man, two metabolites of finasteride were identified that possess only a small fraction of the 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of finasteride.

Excretion.

Following an oral dose of 14C-finasteride in man, 39% of the dose was excreted in the urine in the form of metabolites (virtually no unchanged medicine was excreted in the urine) and 57% of total dose was excreted in the faeces.
Plasma clearance is approximately 165 mL/min.
The elimination rate of finasteride decreases somewhat with age. Mean terminal half-life is approximately 5-6 hours in men 18-60 years of age and 8 hours in men more than 70 years of age. These findings are of no clinical significance and hence, a reduction in dosage in the elderly is not warranted.

Renal impairment.

In patients with chronic renal impairment whose creatinine clearance ranged from 9 to 55 mL/min, the disposition of a single dose of 14C-finasteride was not different from that in healthy volunteers. Protein binding also did not differ in patients with renal impairment. A portion of the metabolites that normally is excreted renally was excreted in the faeces. It therefore appears that faecal excretion increases commensurate to the decrease in urinary excretion of metabolites. No adjustment in dosage is necessary in nondialysed patients with renal impairment.
An open label, balanced, randomized, two treatment, two period, two sequence, single dose, two way crossover, comparative oral bioavailability study of two formulations of finasteride film coated tablets 5 mg was conducted in 30 healthy adult human male subject under fasting condition. The study compared finasteride film coated tablets 5 mg with reference product Proscar 5 mg tablets.
Statistical comparisons of geometric means for test vs reference for finasteride Cmax and AUC0-∞ were as follows. (See Table 3.)
This comparison of test product with reference product finasteride met the predefined criteria for bioequivalence, as the calculated 90% CI for all ratios of prespecified in-transformed PK parameters fell within the range 80.00%-125.00%.

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

Genotoxicity.

No evidence of mutagenicity was observed in an in vitro bacterial mutagenesis assay, a mammalian cell mutagenesis assay, or in an in vitro alkaline elution assay. In an in vitro chromosome aberration assay, when Chinese hamster ovary cells were treated with high concentrations (450-550 micromol) of finasteride, there was a slight increase in chromosome aberrations. These concentrations are in excess of the peak plasma concentrations in men given a total dose of 1 mg and are not achievable in a biological system. In an in vivo chromosome aberration assay in mice, no treatment related increases in chromosome aberration were observed with finasteride at the maximum tolerated dose.

Carcinogenicity.

In a 24 month carcinogenicity study in rats there was an increase in the incidence of thyroid follicular adenomas in male rats receiving 160 mg/kg/day finasteride (statistically significant trend test). This oral dose produced an exposure in rats of more than 800 times that observed in humans at the recommended dose (based on AUC(0-24 hrs) values). The effect of finasteride on the thyroid in rats appears to be due to an increased rate of thyroxine clearance and not a direct effect of the medicine. These observations seen in the rat are thought not relevant to man.
In a 19 month carcinogenicity study in mice, a statistically significant increase in the incidence of testicular Leydig cell adenoma was observed at an oral dose of 250 mg/kg/day (estimated exposure of more than 1700 times that observed in humans at the recommended dose); no adenomas were seen in mice given 2.5 or 25 mg/kg/day.
In mice at an oral dose of 25 mg/kg/day (estimated exposure about 90 times that in humans at the recommended dose) and in rats at an oral dose of = 40 mg/kg/day, (estimated exposure about 300 times that in humans at the recommended dose) an increase in the incidence of Leydig cell hyperplasia was observed. A positive correlation between the proliferative changes of the Leydig cells and the increase in serum luteinising hormone (LH) levels (2-3 fold above control) has been demonstrated in both rodent species treated with high doses of finasteride. This suggests the Leydig cell changes are secondary to elevated serum LH levels and not due to a direct effect of finasteride.
No medicine related Leydig cell changes were seen in either rats or dogs treated with finasteride for one year at respective oral doses of 20 mg/kg/day (estimated exposure more than 220 times that in humans at the recommended dose) and 45 mg/kg/day (estimated exposure more than 2600 times that in humans at the recommended dose) or in mice treated for 19 months at an oral dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day (estimated exposure about 9 times that in humans at the recommended dose).

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

Lactose monohydrate, cellulose microcrystalline, pregelatinised maize starch, lauroyl macrogolglycerides, sodium starch glycollate type A, magnesium stearate and Opadry 03F34739 Pink.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Incompatibilities were either not assessed or not identified as part of the registration of this medicine.

6.3 Shelf Life

In Australia, information on the shelf life can be found on the public summary of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The expiry date can be found on the packaging.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Store below 25°C.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

Pack containing 28 tablets in foil (Al/Al) blisters.

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

Finasteride is a white, crystalline solid with a molecular weight of 372.55. It is freely soluble in chloroform and in lower alcohol solvents but is practically insoluble in water.
Finasteride is described chemically as: N-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-4-aza-5a-androst-1-ene-17βcarboxamide.

Chemical structure.

Its empirical formula is C23H36N2O2 and the molecular weight is 372.55. Its structural formula is:

CAS number.

98319-26-7.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

Prescription Only Medicine (Schedule 4).

Summary Table of Changes