A synthetic glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory properties; inhibits edema by 55% in a RPA test in rabbit when administered topically (0.1% w/w); inhibits edema by 70.1% and 88.0% in croton oil-induced and PCA tests, respectively, in rat (topical, 0.1% w/w); in vivo application (0.1% w/w) to the abraded surface of cecum in rats inhibits leukocyte adhesion (43.3% incidence versus 100% for controls) and lowers the total number of intraperitoneal leukocytes from 270 million to 121 million 3 days post surgery; acts as an agonist at the Smo receptor (EC50 = 1,100 nM)