$800,000 – Awarded January 2023
$300,000 / 2 years – Awarded 2021
$300,000 / 2 years – Awarded 2020
$300,000 / 2 years – Awarded 2019
Eppin Pharma
Durham, NC
About
Eppin Pharma is currently located in NC BioLabs, 701 West Main Street, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27701.
Michael O’Rand, PhD, is an emeritus professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine. Dr. O’Rand is a reproductive biologist and has more than 40 years of experience in studying mechanisms underlying fertilization. Dr. O’Rand established the in vitro fertilization laboratory in UNC School of Medicine’s North Carolina Memorial Hospital and the first “test tube” baby in North Carolina. He has 5 issued or pending patents and more than 90 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. O’Rand has an AB from the University of California at Berkeley, an MS from Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon and a PhD in Biology from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
Our Grant
MCI’s grants and investments with Eppin support Eppin Pharma reaching its goal of submitting an IND application to the FDA and entering first-in-man studies of their male contraceptive candidate, EP055. The approval of an IND will lead directly to a phase I clinical trial in the NIH contraceptive clinical trial network. Our support with Eppin covers the methodology used to quantitate EP055 in biological samples, in vitro safety screenings, and a GLP-compliant repeat-dose IV toxicity study, all with the idea that returns from MCI’s program-related investment feed back into the contraceptive development community.
Press Releases
Male Contraceptive Initiative Invests in Eppin Pharma to Support Clinical Trials for a Non-Hormonal Male Contraceptive
January 19, 2023
Researcher Receives Second $300,000 Grant for Male Contraception
November 30, 2020
Eppin Pharma Receives $300,000 Grant for Male Contraception
December 9th, 2019