Drug Database
ET

ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone (WC3026 / Generess Fe)

✓ Approved

Actavis · ESR1 · Small Molecule

What is ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone?

ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone is a small molecule developed by Actavis. It is approved for therapeutic indications via oral (po).

Drug Profile

Brand NamesWC3026, Generess Fe
CompanyActavis
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetESR1, PGR
RouteOral (PO)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Actavis

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone acts on 2 molecular targets:

ESR1estrogen receptor 1 (ER, ESR)
PGRprogesterone receptor (NR3C3, PR)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Related Research Articles

PubMedUrologie (Heidelberg, Germany)2026-09-20

[Gender-affirming hormone therapy: state of the art].

Bischoff Jenny J

Gender incongruence affects approximately 0.6% of the population in Germany and, when accompanied by significant psychological distress, may constitute an indication for gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). The increasing diversity of gender identity has led to a more individualized approach to hormone therapy. The decision to initiate treatment is based on the expected reduction in gender-related dysphoria due to hormonal treatment. Treatment is carried out in accordance with guidelines and is tailored to the wishes and goals of the person seeking treatment. Various estradiol preparations and antiandrogenic substances can be used to achieve feminization. Masculinizing therapy relies primarily on testosterone. For non-binary individuals, GAHT is usually administered at lower doses and typically focuses on specific aspects of gender alignment. The therapeutic effects usually develop slowly but can be irreversible and significant. Risks should be assessed in advance, and patients should be informed about potential adverse effects. Monitoring and adjustment of treatment take place at specified regular intervals. Adjustments and support throughout the course of treatment-ranging from fertility preservation to cancer screening-are key components of comprehensive care in patients undergoing GAHT. Although the evidence regarding GAHT has improved significantly in recent years, large-scale studies are still lacking for many aspects.

PMID 42763335
Read full article →
PubMedTransplant international : official journal of the European Society for Organ Transplantation2026-09-19

Menopause influences lung inflammatory response and miRNA expression in brain death donors.

Miola Elizabeth Cristina EC, Toneto Nicholas Pietro Agulha NPA, Yamamoto Ricardo-da-Silva Fernanda F, de Freitas Pedro Luis Zonta PLZ et al.

Lungs are highly affected by brain death, with females showing a higher inflammatory response, linked sex hormones acute reduction. With the aging of world population, the number of older donors is increasing. So, the study of menopause associated changes gain importance. Here we investigated menopause's effects in female brain death rats, previously subjected to transitional follicular depletion and aging. Female Wistar rats were divided in young and menopause groups. After follicular depletion, rats aged for 10 weeks. The animals were submitted to brain death and Sham operated rats served as controls. White blood cell counts, bronchoalveolar lavage were analyzed and inflammatory mediators were quantified. Lung tissue was evaluated for myeloperoxidase, intercellular adhesion molecules, miRNA expression, and protein and gene expression of estradiol receptors. In menopause group, there was increase in systemic and tissue leukocyte infiltration, myeloperoxidase expression, inducible nitric oxide synthase, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, lung edema, and loss of IL-10 regulation. Additionally, we found alterations in estradiol receptors along with changes in the expression of miRNAs associated to inflammation, vascular function and senescence. Menopause increases lung inflammation after brain death, by higher leukocyte infiltration and reduction of IL-10 and may impact the outcome of lung transplantation.

PMID 42761501
Read full article →
PubMedEndocrine regulations2026-09-19

Estrogens hypersensitivity syndrome in endometriosis.

Rukhliada Nikolai Nikolaevich NN, Dudova Kristina Andreevna KA

Objectives. The aim of the study was to develop a diagnostic method for estrogen hypersensitivity syndrome in proliferative benign diseases of the female reproductive system. Using the example of endometriosis, changes in the activity of the chaperone protein Hsp90α were determined as a diagnostic biomarker. Methods. The study included 60 women aged 30 to 50 years, thirty of whom had a laparoscopically confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis and 30 were included in the control group. After blood sampling to determine the baseline levels of Hsp90α, the patients were prescribed a single oral dose of estradiol valerate 2 mg tablet. The plasma Hsp90α levels were remeasured 6 h later. Results. No significant change (p>0.05) in baseline Hsp90α concentrations was found between the group of patients with endometriosis and the control group. Six hours after estradiol valerate administration, a significant difference (p<0.001) in Hsp90α levels was observed between the group of patients with endometriosis and the control group. The increase in Hsp90α concentration following the test-load was also more pronounced in women with confirmed endometriosis compared to controls (27.29±15.62 ng/ml and 3.16±4.36 ng/ml, respectively) (p<0.001). ROC analysis indicated that the absolute increase in Hsp90α level of more than 8.6 ng/ml in patients with endometriosis has a sensitivity of 0.93 and a specificity of 0.97 (compared to the control group). This change in relative concentration corresponded to an increase of over 28.7%. Conclusion. The increase in Hsp90α plasma level of more than 30% within 6 h after the test-load is a specific criterion for estrogen hypersensitivity syndrome in endometriosis. Further investigation including other nosological forms (myoma, adenomyosis, endometrial hyperplasia) is required.

PMID 42762506
Read full article →
PubMedTheriogenology2026-09-19

CPT1A alters granulosa cell proliferation and steroidogenic activity in association with fatty acid oxidation during goat follicular development.

Song Shuaifei S, Yang Mingzhi M, Li Jiayue J, Wang Zihan Z et al.

Follicular development in goats relies on the extensive proliferation and hormone synthesis of granulosa cells (GCs), processes that require an adequate energy supply. Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) represents a primary energy source for granulosa cells. However, how its rate-limiting enzyme, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), modulates granulosa cell function remains unclear. This study examined CPT1A expression in healthy and atretic follicles and investigated its association with FAO-associated gene expression, ATP generation, proliferation, steroidogenesis, and palmitic acid (PA)-induced ferroptosis-associated responses in goat granulosa cells. Compared with healthy follicles, CPT1A protein expression was significantly higher in atretic follicles. In vitro experiments demonstrated that CPT1A overexpression upregulated the expression of FAO-associated genes and elevated intracellular ATP levels, whereas CPT1A knockdown produced the opposite effects. Moreover, CPT1A expression was positively associated with granulosa cell proliferation and steroidogenesis, as evidenced by increased PCNA expression, EdU-positive rates, the expression of steroidogenesis-associated proteins, and the secretion of estradiol and progesterone. Conversely, CPT1A knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and reduced steroidogenic activity. Additionally, PA treatment increased CPT1A expression, which was accompanied by ferroptosis-associated changes, including elevated lipid peroxidation and ROS accumulation, alongside reduced GSH levels. In summary, this study reveals the critical role of CPT1A as a potential metabolic regulator in goat granulosa cells, providing new insights into the metabolic mechanisms underlying follicular development and suggesting that CPT1A may serve as a key molecular target for understanding reproductive regulation in goats.

PMID 42762603
Read full article →
PubMedBioactive materials2026-09-19

Engineering ovarian asymmetric mechanical niches in a dual-layer microcavity array enhances mouse secondary follicle development and oocyte competence.

Liu Shuya S, Zhang Shan S, Zhou Jiali J, Dong Wenxia W et al.

With global population aging and declining fertility rates, the preservation of reproductive health has become an important biomedical challenge. In vitro follicle culture, especially secondary follicle culture, represents a promising strategy for advancing fertility preservation research; however, current systems often fail to recapitulate the spatially heterogeneous ovarian mechanics, particularly the mechanical asymmetry between cortex and medulla, limiting follicular development and culture scalability. Here, we engineered a dual-layer biomimetic microcavity array (MCA) for high-throughput three-dimensional culture of mouse secondary follicles by integrating a mechanically supportive agarose outer scaffold with softer alginate hydrogel compartments that generate a softer medulla-like microenvironment. This platform enables standardized and parallel culture of isolated follicles with spatially organized mechanical regulation. Compared with conventional alginate microsphere culture, the MCA system significantly enhanced secondary follicle growth, survival, estradiol secretion, and oocyte maturation. Furthermore, oocytes derived from MCA-cultured follicles exhibited improved developmental competence relative to microsphere controls, with higher fertilization and blastocyst formation rates. Blastocyst formation increased from 7.7% in the microsphere group to 34.5% in the MCA group, although it remained below that of the superovulated in vivo control. Mechanistically, the dual-layer architecture generated distinct solid mechanical stress distributions, including altered shear components arising from follicular expansion against the surrounding matrix, which were associated with changes in mechanotransduction-related signaling pathways, including PI3K/Akt-related signaling, in follicular cells. Collectively, this study establishes a biomimetic platform for investigating the role of mechanical microenvironments in follicular development and provides a research framework for future advances in ovarian tissue engineering and fertility preservation.

PMID 42761305
Read full article →
PubMedIBRO neuroscience reports2026-09-18

Modulation of spatial learning and memory by cannabinoid-estrogen interaction in an AD-like cognitive impairment: The role of cannabinoid receptors and BDNF protein.

Mirshekar Mohammad Ali MA, Nadi Farzaneh F, Fanaei Hamed H, Chahkandi Mohadeseh M

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an increasingly prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, with women showing a higher risk of developing the disease. The decline in steroid hormones after menopause may contribute to the increased susceptibility of women to neurodegenerative conditions. In parallel, cannabis-derived compounds have been reported to alleviate certain symptoms associated with neurological disorders. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of marijuana extract on cognitive impairment and hippocampal molecular markers in an ovariectomized AD-like rat model, and to evaluate whether co-administration with estradiol modifies these effects. The marijuana extract used in this study was characterized by HPLC and was found to contain 8.5% Δ9-THC. AD-like cognitive impairment pathology was induced by intra-hippocampal administration of Aβ25-35 in OVX rats. Animals were treated with marijuana extract (60 mg/kg/day, corresponding to approximately 5.1 mg/kg/day Δ9-THC) either alone or in combination with 17β-estradiol (1 mg/kg every 4 days) for 28 days. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM). In addition, hippocampal CB1/CB2 receptor expression and BDNF protein levels were measured to examine potential molecular associations. Our findings showed that chronic administration of the marijuana extract improved Aβ25-35-induced deficits in spatial learning and memory. Alterations in CB1 receptor expression and BDNF levels accompanied these behavioral effects. Notably, co-treatment with estradiol did not produce a synergistic effect, suggesting a complex interaction between cannabinoid-related and estrogen-related signaling pathways. These preclinical findings suggest that a THC-standardized marijuana extract may exert neuroprotective-like effects in an AD-like cognitive impairment model. However, because the extract was not fully phytochemically characterized and the mechanistic analyses were correlational, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms and translational relevance of these findings.

PMID 42756662
Read full article →

+9996 more articles available with a free account

Sign up free to view all articles →

Ask about ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone