Used primarily in research settings, this compound serves as a metabolite reference for studying the metabolic pathways of budesonide, a widely used corticosteroid. It helps in understanding drug metabolism in the liver, particularly via cytochrome P450 enzymes. Due to its structural similarity to budesonide, it is also employed in analytical methods such as mass spectrometry and chromatography to identify and quantify budesonide breakdown products in biological samples. Its role is critical in pharmacokinetic and drug interaction studies, especially when assessing the safety and efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids.