PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF 11BETA-SUBSTITUTED STEROIDS AND OF PHARMACEUTICAL OR VETERINARY COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THE SAME

11 beta -Substituted steroids of formula (I> wherein R1 and R2 are both hydrogen or, taken together, form the group oxo or =CH2; R3 is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl substituent at C-6 or C-7; R5 is alkyl; R6 is hydroxy and R7 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, or R6 and R7, taken together, form =CH2; R4 is, e. g., an alkyl, cycloalkyl, phenyl or heterocyclic group, each optionally substituted by a substituent chosen from (i) unsubstituted or substituted amino or heterocyclic amino, (ii) a silyl group, (iii) a hydroxy, alkoxy or aminoalkoxy group and (iv) halogen or haloalkyl, and pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of formula (I) exhibit anti-progesterone and antiglucocorticoid activity and are useful in treatment of hormone-dependent tumors.