3-METHYLENE STEROID DERIVATIVE FOR THE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

The invention concerns a 3-methylene steroid derivative having general formula (1) wherein R1 is H or together with R3 forms a beta-epoxide or R1 is absent if there is a 5-10 or 4-5 double bond; R2 is (C1-C5) alkyl or CF3; R3 is betaH, betaCH3 or together with R1 forms a beta-epoxide or R3 is absent if there is a 5-10 double bond; R4 is H, lower alkyl; Y is [H, H], [OH, H], =O, [OH, lower alkyl], [OH, (C2-C5)alkenyl], [OH, (C2-C5)alkynyl] or (C1-C6) alkylidene, whereby said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and alkylidene is optionally halogenated; =NOR5, whereby R5 is H, lower alkyl; dotted lines represent an optional double bond, or prodrugs thereof for the treatment of arthritic diseases and/or autoimmune diseases.