The present invention contemplates novel neurosteroid derivative compounds, such as derivatives of ganaxolone and allopregnanolone, having improved solubility and bioavailability. The novel neurosteroid derivative compounds are characterized by the following formulas: wherein R1 is methyl or hydrogen, R2 is an ester function (R-C(O)O-), R3 is hydrogen, R4 is alpha or beta hydrogen, R5 is R-CO- or any hydrocarbon structure (R-), and wherein R (in R2 or R5) is independently selected from any structure comprising 10 carbon atoms or fewer, which is linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, may comprise cyclic or aromatic functions within the structure, and wherein R contains no more than 1 OH or NR2, or 2 ether or thioether functions.本發明涵蓋新穎之神經類固醇衍生物化合物，諸如加奈索酮及四氫孕酮之衍生物，其具有改善的溶解度及生物利用度。新穎神經類固醇衍生物化合物由下式表徵：其中R1為甲基或氫，R2為酯官能基(R-C(O)O-)，R3為氫，R4為α或β氫，R5為R-CO-或任何烴結構(R-)，且其中R(在R2或R5中)獨立地選自包括10個或更少碳原子的任何結構，其為直鏈或分支鏈、飽和或不飽和的，在所述結構內可包括環狀或芳族官能基，且其中R含有不超過1個OH或NR2，或2個醚或硫醚官能基。
