The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein R2 to R7 are as defined in the claims. The invention further relates to their use as inhibitors of 17-HSD and in treatment or prevention of steroid hormone de-pendent diseases or disorders, such as steroid hormone dependent diseases or disorders requiring the inhibition of the 17-HSD1 enzyme and/or requiring the lowering of the endogenous estradiol concentration. The present invention also relates to the preparation of the aforementioned compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising as an active ingredient(s) one or more of the afore-mentioned compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

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The present disclosure relates to Betulastatin compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising such compounds, and methods for using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.

The present disclosure concerns methods for producing purified saponins, such as QS-21, which reduces the number of necessary lyophilization cycles to one by a step of solvent exchange and optional subsequent exposure of the purified saponin product to at least one exposure to dry gas followed by exposure to a vacuum to further rid the purified saponin product of residual solvent molecules.

The present disclosure relates to Betulastatin compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising such compounds, and methods for using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.