finasteride + tamsulosin (Merck & Co.)

MK-0906A is a fixed-dose combination (FDC) drug developed by Merck Sharp & Dohme (a subsidiary of Merck & Co.) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It combines two active ingredients: finasteride (originally coded MK-906), a small-molecule competitive inhibitor of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, and tamsulosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist. Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate gland, thereby reducing prostate volume. Tamsulosin relieves BPH symptoms by relaxing the smooth muscle in the bladder neck and prostate, reducing bladder outlet obstruction. MK-0906A was evaluated in Phase I pharmacokinetic studies and a Phase III clinical trial (MK-0906A-149) comparing finasteride monotherapy to the combination therapy in men aged 50 and older with BPH. However, the Phase III trial was terminated early for business reasons, and development was discontinued.

Other names

finasteride/tamsulosintamsulosin/finasteridefinasteride and tamsulosin