Boldione, also known as androstadienedione or 1-dehydroandrostenedione, as well as 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione, is an important industrial precursor for various steroid hormones. Boldione is a direct precursor (prohormone) to the anabolic steroid boldenone (1,4-androstadiene-17beta-ol-3-one). It is advertised as a highly anabolic/androgenic compound promoting muscularity, enhancing strength and overall physical performance, and is available on the Internet and in health stores. Boldione was marketed as a prohormone “dietary supplement” for many years in the mid-2000’s, but it is truly a potent precursor (ie. converts in the body) to the anabolic steroid Boldenone. In 2005 the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2005 classified boldenone as a Schedule III controlled illegal steroid.

17β-Carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one is an intermediate in the synthesis of the drugs Dutasteride (D735000) and Finasteride. 17β-Carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one shows weak inhibition of Steroid 5-alpha-reductase and Androgen Receptor antagonism.