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prasterone (Mylis)

✓ Approved

Merck & Co. · AR · Small Molecule

What is prasterone?

prasterone is a small molecule developed by Merck & Co.. It is approved for therapeutic indications.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesMylis
CompanyMerck & Co.
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetAR
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Merck & Co.

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

prasterone acts on 1 molecular target:

ARandrogen receptor (DHTR, AR8)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

prasterone is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Surgical and medical proceduresLabour induction✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedWomen's health (London, England)2026-09-16

Genitourinary syndrome of lactation: An underrecognized postpartum condition affecting women's vulvovaginal, urinary and sexual health.

Orozco Fernández Rodrigo R, Gil-Antuñano Santiago Palacios SP

Postpartum care is increasingly viewed as a continuum of maternal recovery rather than a single visit at six weeks. Within this broader view, however, the genitourinary and sexual health of breastfeeding women remains insufficiently addressed. Genitourinary syndrome of lactation (GSL) has recently been proposed to describe postpartum and lactation-related vulvovaginal, urinary and sexual symptoms that may be linked to the hypoestrogenic hormonal environment of breastfeeding. During lactation, suckling-related prolactin secretion suppresses hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian activity and may maintain low estradiol levels, particularly during amenorrhea. Although the term deliberately echoes genitourinary syndrome of menopause, GSL belongs to a different clinical setting: a woman recovering from pregnancy and birth, adapting to breastfeeding, living with sleep deprivation and body changes, and gradually rebuilding sexual intimacy. This narrative perspective review summarizes the emerging evidence on GSL and offers a practical framework for recognition, differential diagnosis, screening and breastfeeding-supportive management. GSL should not be reduced to vaginal dryness, nor should every postpartum sexual or urinary symptom be attributed to lactation-related hormonal deprivation. Assessment should consider perineal scar pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, vestibulodynia, vulvovaginal infections, vulvar dermatoses, urinary tract disorders, hormonal contraception and psychosocial contributors; bowel symptoms may indicate broader pelvic floor or obstetric injury rather than GSL itself. Management is best approached in a stepped and individualized manner, beginning with education, validation, vulvar care, lubricants, vaginal moisturizers, pelvic floor physiotherapy and sexual counselling when indicated. For persistent moderate-to-severe mucosal symptoms, low-dose vaginal estrogen is a reasonable option after shared decision-making, particularly once lactation is established. Vaginal prasterone lacks lactation-specific safety and efficacy evidence and cannot currently be recommended routinely. Recognizing GSL is not an argument against breastfeeding; it is a way to make postpartum care more complete.

PMID 42748416
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PubMedInternational heart journal2026-09-13

Clinical Characteristics and Real-World Outcomes of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients Undergoing ICD Implantation.

Aizawa Yoshiyasu Y, Hayashi Hiroshi H, Hirayama Hiroaki H, Okajima Shuhei S et al.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is essential for preventing sudden cardiac death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, real-world data regarding transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) and subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) systems in patients with HCM remain limited.We retrospectively analyzed 279 patients diagnosed with HCM at Nippon Medical School Hospital between 2003 and 2025. Among them, 75 patients who underwent ICD implantation were included. Baseline characteristics, ICD therapies, and device-related complications were compared between TV-ICD and S-ICD groups.Of the 75 patients, 63 received TV-ICDs and 12 received S-ICDs. Patients in the S-ICD group were younger and taller, with shorter follow-up duration. Established risk factors for sudden cardiac death were generally more frequent in the TV-ICD group, with significant differences in syncope and inducible ventricular fibrillation. During follow-up, there were no significant differences between groups in total ICD therapies, appropriate shocks, inappropriate shocks, or mortality. Anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) was observed exclusively in the TV-ICD group. Device infections requiring system removal occurred only in the TV-ICD group.In this single-center observational cohort, no statistically significant differences in major clinical outcomes were observed between S-ICD and TV-ICD groups during follow-up. Given its favorable complication profile, S-ICD may represent a feasible alternative in selected younger patients with HCM.

PMID 42732935
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PubMedComparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics2026-09-11

Integrated transcriptomic analysis of mRNA and miRNA in Brown adipose tissue of the greater horseshoe bats during hibernation.

Liu Sen S, Fan Qiaodan Q, Li Hang H, Yue Xinyu X et al.

Hibernation enables animals survive harsh environments by conserving energy through reduced metabolism and body temperature. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a critical role in non-shivering thermogenesis, crucial for warming up during arousal phase. The greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus nippon) are typical hibernators and non-shivering thermogenesis in BAT tissue may persist throughout the arousal process in bats. This study examines gene expression and regulatory changes in BAT of these bats across active, hibernation, and arousal phases using transcriptome and miRNA sequencing. A total of 2721 differentially expressed mRNAs and 268 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified. The results reveal that the BAT transcriptome undergoes state-dependent remodeling throughout the hibernation process. The most pronounced divergence occurs between the active phase and torpor, involving cell cycle arrest, immunosuppression, thermogenic signal desensitization, and upregulation of lipid metabolism and autophagy pathways, reflecting the coordinated adaptation of energy conservation and thermogenic reserve. In contrast, transcriptional alterations between torpor and arousal are extremely limited, indicating that torpid BAT is already pre-primed for thermogenesis and requires only modest transcriptional adjustments to activate heat production. Notably, although body temperature recovers to active-phase levels during arousal, the molecular signature of BAT remains highly similar to that of the torpid state. Furthermore, the core thermogenic gene UCP1 showed no significant expression differences across the three groups. In conclusion, this study systematically delineates the miRNA-mRNA regulatory landscape of bat BAT across the hibernation process, and deepens our understanding of the thermoregulatory mechanisms underlying mammalian hibernation.

PMID 42727167
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PubMedHypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension2026-09-11

Home blood pressure variability and risk of cardiovascular outcomes in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation from the ANAFIE registry.

Yoshida Daisuke D, Shinohara Keisuke K, Ikeda Shota S, Hirose Masayuki M et al.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequently accompanied by hypertension; however, the relationship between mid-term blood pressure variability (BPV) assessed using home blood pressure (BP) measurements and prognosis in patients with AF remains unclear. We examined the association between home BPV and cardiovascular outcomes in elderly patients with non-valvular AF using data from the ANAFIE (All Nippon AF In the Elderly) Registry. This post hoc analysis of a prospective registry included 4885 patients aged ≥75 years who performed standardized home BP measurements in the morning and evening (two measurements at each time point) over seven consecutive days. Mid-term BPV was quantified using the coefficient of variation of systolic home BP and categorized into quartiles. The primary endpoint was a net cardiovascular outcome, defined as a composite of stroke, systemic embolism, and major bleeding. Associations were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for mean BP and established risk factors. Over a median follow-up of two years, the net cardiovascular outcome occurred in 171 patients. Compared with the lowest BPV quartile, patients in the highest quartile had a significantly higher risk of the net cardiovascular outcome (HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.21-3.40). Higher risks were also observed for stroke/systemic embolism, intracranial hemorrhage, and bleeding. Findings were consistent when BPV was assessed using the standard deviation and across subgroups. In conclusion, greater mid-term home BPV was independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk beyond average BP in elderly patients with non-valvular AF.

PMID 42722732
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PubMedNeurology. Education2026-09-06

Curriculum Innovation: Virtual Reality for Neuroanatomy Education Among Neurology Residents.

Gupta Ayush A, Bass Derek D, Barton Christopher R CR, Zhang Wanyu W et al.

Advanced neuroanatomy knowledge is essential for clinical reasoning in neurology, yet residency training offers limited time to reinforce concepts. This contributes to persistent gaps in topics frequently tested on the Residency In-service Training Examination (RITE). This study evaluated the feasibility and educational impact of a virtual reality (VR) neuroanatomy curriculum intended to enable residents to (1) identify and spatially integrate arterial, venous, and ventricular structures; (2) improve performance on assessments targeting commonly missed RITE concepts; and (3) assess usability, engagement, spatial presence, and perceived educational value. (1) To identify and label key neuroanatomical structures, (2) to describe spatial relationships relevant to clinical localization, (3) to apply neuroanatomy to clinical scenarios modeled after RITE items, and (4) to evaluate usability, engagement, and spatial presence of VR. A single-group, pre-post mixed-methods study among neurology residents at a single academic medical center. Participants completed a faculty-guided 40-minute VR session using Organon VR Anatomy on Meta Quest 3 headsets, focusing on cerebrovascular arterial supply, venous sinuses, ventricular anatomy, and key spatial relationships relevant to clinical localization. Knowledge was assessed using quizzes at baseline, postintervention, and at 2-week follow-up. Learner perceptions were measured using surveys, and data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and linear mixed-effects models, with mean differences and 95% confidence intervals reported. Thirty residents (mean age 30.5 years, SD 4.6; 50% female) completed all assessments. Mean scores increased from 8.57 (SD 2.75) at baseline to 11.37 (SD 2.27) immediately postintervention and were sustained at 11.20 (SD 3.07) at 2 weeks. The mean increase was 2.80 points (95% CI 1.45-4.15), representing an approximate 33% improvement, with sustained gains at follow-up (2.63 points; 95% CI 1.28-3.99). Participants reported high usability, engagement, and spatial presence. This study demonstrates the feasibility of an instructor-guided VR neuroanatomy curriculum and provides preliminary evidence of improved knowledge and short-term retention. Findings should be interpreted in the context of a single-group design and nonidentical assessments, which limit causal inference. VR seems to be a promising adjunct to traditional instruction, particularly when combined with guided teaching. Future controlled studies are needed to evaluate comparative effectiveness and long-term clinical impact.

PMID 42699696
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PubMedParasite (Paris, France)2026-09-04

Epidemiologic survey and genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in sika deer (Cervus nippon) in four provinces of China.

Zhuang Hong-Di HD, Xiang Wen-Tao WT, Li Ting T, Cui Bing-Bing BB et al.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites with a wide host range. To elucidate the relationship between Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection dynamics and evolution within China's sika deer population, 466 fresh fecal samples were collected from May to October 2024 across four provinces, Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Shandong. The ITS region of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was amplified using nested PCR, enabling the identification and genotyping of E. bieneusi. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi in sika deer was 44.4% (207/466). Province-specific prevalence was highest in Shandong (76.0%, 38/50) and Heilongjiang (75.3%, 67/89), followed by Jilin (38.7%, 65/168), and lowest in Liaoning (23.3%, 37/159). The prevalence in autumn (44.9%) was slightly higher than in summer (41.7%), and the prevalence in adult deer (48.7%) was found to be significantly higher than in young deer (31.6%). In this study, we identified a total of 11 E. bieneusi genotypes, including 9 known genotypes (BEB6, HND-II, LND-I, JLD-XIX, CHN-F1, HLJD-I, HLJD-III, Type IV, and COS-I) and 2 novel genotypes (named JL-D-4 and JL-D-5). Among them, BEB6 was the dominant genotype (38.7%, 80/207). This study enriches the genotype data of E. bieneusi, reveals the prevalence of E. bieneusi in some sika deer populations, and provides a reference for subsequent epidemiologic research as well as prevention and control efforts.

PMID 42696651
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