Deuterated testosterone

Deuterated testosterone
Clinical data
Other namesAVA-291; AVA291; d-Testosterone; d3-Testosterone; d3-T; Deutestosterone; Testosterone-19-d3; 17β-Hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one-19,19,19-D3
Routes of
administration		Oral, transdermal, parenteral[1]
Drug classAndrogen; Anabolic steroid
Identifiers
  • (8R,9S,10R,13S,14S,17S)-17-hydroxy-13-methyl-10-(trideuteriomethyl)-1,2,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC19H28O2
Molar mass288.431 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • [2H]C([2H])([2H])[C@]12CCC(=O)C=C1CC[C@@H]3[C@@H]2CC[C@]4([C@H]3CC[C@@H]4O)C
  • InChI=1S/C19H28O2/c1-18-9-7-13(20)11-12(18)3-4-14-15-5-6-17(21)19(15,2)10-8-16(14)18/h11,14-17,21H,3-10H2,1-2H3/t14-,15-,16-,17-,18-,19-/m0/s1/i1D3
  • Key:MUMGGOZAMZWBJJ-RJSKNYPQSA-N

Deuterated testosterone (developmental code name AVA-291), also known as d3-testosterone (d3-T), is an androgen or androgen receptor agonist which is under development for the treatment of breast cancer, female sexual dysfunction, hypogonadism, decreased libido, fatigue, and muscular atrophy.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] It is taken orally, transdermally, or parenterally.[1]

The drug is an isotopologue of testosterone.[1][2][8] More specifically, the three hydrogen atoms on the C19 methyl group have been replaced with the deuterium isotopes.[1][8] Unlike testosterone, deuterated testosterone is highly resistant to metabolism into estradiol by aromatase, showing a half-life that is 4 to 7 times longer than that of testosterone in an aromatase-containing system in vitro (55.9–79.9 minutes vs. 7.7–18.5 minutes, respectively).[7][8] On the other hand, they were metabolized at similar rates in rat and human hepatocytes.[7][8][4] In addition, deuterated testosterone had similar potency and efficacy as testosterone as an androgen receptor agonist in vitro.[7][8] As such, deuterated testosterone is expected to retain activity as an androgen similarly to testosterone but to lack or have greatly reduced estrogenic activity.[4][7][8] Accordingly, deuterated testosterone showed 1,000-fold lower potential in stimulating breast cancer cell proliferation compared to testosterone.[4][9]

The chemical synthesis of deuterated testosterone has been described.[10][11][8]

Deuterated testosterone was first described in the scientific literature by 1978.[11] It is under development by Lennham Pharmaceuticals and Aviva Biopharm.[1][2][3][12] As of December 2025, the drug is in the preclinical research stage of development.[1][2][3] A phase 1 trial is being planned for early 2026.[2][4] Deuterated testosterone was patented in 2021.[6][8] It is expected to have improved tolerability and safety relative to testosterone in certain contexts, for instance avoiding gynecomastia (male breast development) or treating estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.[4][9][7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Deuterated testosterone". AdisInsight. 28 December 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e "AVA 291". AdisInsight. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Delving into the Latest Updates on d-Testosterone with Synapse". Synapse. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Clarke H (27 January 2026). "FDA provides guidance on development pathway for testosterone therapy for women". Urology Times. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  5. ^ Stemmerich K, Sewell AC, Arndt T (2022). "Weighty times ahead for the lab?" (PDF). TIAFT Bulletin. 52 (4). Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Lennham discloses deuterated testosterone compound". BioWorld. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Tarantino PM, Boice JA, Dudley RE, Sippy BC (22 October 2025). "MON-261 Characterization of d3-Testosterone, A Novel, Non-Aromatizing Androgen". Journal of the Endocrine Society. 9 (Supplement_1) bvaf149.1839. doi:10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.1839. ISSN 2472-1972. PMC 12544388.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Deuterated forms of testosterone and methods of use". Google Patents. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  9. ^ a b Fitch J (27 January 2026). "Aviva to advance, announce new data for AVA-291 women's testosterone therapy". Contemporary OB/GYN. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  10. ^ Qian M, Covey DF (May 2024). "A unified total synthesis route to 18-trideuterated and/or 19-trideuterated testosterone, androstenedione and progesterone". Steroids. 205 109391. doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2024.109391. PMC 10981554. PMID 38437943.
  11. ^ a b Baba S, Shinohara Y, Kasuya Y (1978). "Synthesis of trideuterated testosterone labeled selectively at the C-19 angular methyl group". Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals. 14 (5): 783–791. doi:10.1002/jlcr.2580140517. ISSN 0362-4803. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  12. ^ Halem J (14 July 2025). "Aviva Biopharm Inc. Unveils Groundbreaking Pre-Clinical Data on d3-T, a First-in-Class Testosterone Therapy for Women at ENDO 2025". Business Wire. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
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