Contraceptive Accelerator Network Overview

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Contraceptive Accelerator Network’s mission is to achieve reproductive autonomy for all by accelerating contraceptive research and development.

The Global Challenge

The existing contraceptive method mix is significantly skewed towards women and people with uteruses, meaning that these individuals are primarily responsible for preventing an unintended pregnancy. For men and other sperm-producers, the only reversible method of contraception currently available is condoms (with a typical use failure rate of 12%). Vasectomy is also a contraceptive option, but it is intended to be permanent and reversing one can be challenging and expensive.

There are many reasons why this imbalance has persisted and still exists today:

The narrow definition of “risk” when it comes to pregnancy that constrains it to only consider physical risks
The complex nature of male reproductive biology (including the 1,000+ sperm produced each second) and our limited understanding of it
The social and economic benefits that contraception has provided to women, leading to the belief among many that birth control is only for women
The limited amount of funding into the research and development of new contraceptives, especially male-focused methods

The last point, funding, is particularly poignant as it can cost hundreds of millions of dollars (or more!) to bring a new drug to market.

A scientist wearing blue gloves and safety glasses examines two glass beakers filled with blue liquid in a laboratory setting.

(Source: Guttmacher Institute)

Our Proposed Solution

We work creatively and nimbly to overcome the existing challenges in order to greatly expand the number of contraceptive methods for men and other sperm-producers beyond just condoms and vasectomy.

Increasing the number of contraceptive methods for men would greatly aid in empowering people with reproductive autonomy. This would reduce the burden on women and egg-producers to manage family planning goals while also helping to reduce the 120+ million unintended pregnancies that occur globally every year.

In the United States, a novel contraceptive method for people who produce sperm could help reduce unintended pregnancy rates each year while also helping to meet the considerable demand that exists for these new contraceptives.

Organizational Overview

We accelerate male contraceptive product development timelines while meaningfully reducing costs, thereby ensuring that the next generation of contraception is both accessible and affordable.

Contraceptive Accelerator Network (CAN) is a subsidiary of the non-profit Male Contraceptive Initiative, and works in parallel with our parent non-profit to identify appropriate products and programs to support through the testing and evaluation processes required prior to Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies and clinical trials.

The company’s operations are streamlined and intentionally designed to maximize cost efficiency in all activities, taking advantage of the many drug discovery resources commercially available to increase our impact while reducing overhead costs and allowing for an expanded portfolio of projects as appropriate.

Light green text reads Contraceptive Accelerator Network next to a design with a circle and three rightward arrows on a light gray background.

A graph shows funding levels across the male contraceptive product development pipeline. Funding is high in early and late stages but drops significantly in the middle, labeled the Valley of Death. CAN fills this funding gap.

Flowchart illustrating the Male Contraceptive Initiative funding research, ecosystem support, and investments, which connect to academic and private sectors and the Contraceptive Accelerator Network, ultimately leading to new male contraceptive products.

MCI & CAN

MCI Overview

Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Durham, North Carolina, and founded in 2014. The organization provides funding and advocacy support for the development of new methods of non-hormonal, reversible male contraceptives in order to empower men and couples with the resources they need to meaningfully and equitably contribute to family planning goals.

MCI’s granting and investment activities sufficiently de-risk early stage targets such that CAN is able to identify the most salient options and work through a collaborative network of researchers, advisers, and other external resources to accelerate the development of new sperm-targeting contraceptives in an effort to expeditiously facilitate their market-readiness. Projects held by CAN are given individualized attention, and progressed in a way that advances the program into clinical trials, de-risks future studies, and incentivizes follow-on investment.

CAN is structured such that any profits generated from the contraceptive products it develops are reinvested in MCI. This innovative structure disrupts the traditional model of contraceptive drug development in a multitude of ways:

It ensures the continued support of early stage research and development activities and maturation into active contraceptive development programs
It allows for the potential expanded support of the male contraceptive R&D field with a prospective infusion of additional capital
It provides the MCI/CAN cohort more control over the cost of the products it develops once they are market-ready, which by extension can help ensure greater access domestically and internationally
It prevents promising male contraceptive leads from being shelved due to a lack of meaningful development support
It acts as an incubator, and facilitates the growth of a program while actively looking for mission-driven partners interested in technology transfer and product development
It values transparency and partnerships, bringing the values of philanthropy into pharmaceutical development