New esters of Halopredone for topical antiinflammatory use

A series of new halopredone esters has been prepared and screened for local and systemic antiinflammatory activity. High local activity with no side effects, equivalent to that of 17,21-bis(acetyloxy)-2-bromo-6beta,9-difluoro-11beta-hydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (halopredone acetate; Topicon), is obtained when either the 17- or 21-OH of halopredone are benzoylated.