Gregory Kopf, PhD
Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer $400,000 - Awarded 2026 |
Gregory Kopf, PhDSacyl Pharmaceuticals
Cary, NC About
Sacyl Pharmaceuticals is a pioneering biotech company developing novel, non-hormonal, and reversible male contraceptive options. Their research focuses on Soluble Adenylyl Cyclase (sAC), an enzyme vital for sperm motility. By inhibiting sAC, Sacyl aims to temporarily immobilize sperm without affecting hormones or long-term fertility. This work is geared toward creating on-demand, user-controlled male contraception, addressing a major gap in family planning and promoting reproductive equity. The development of a reversible male pill is considered a highly disruptive innovation in the reproductive health landscape. Sacyl's approach offers a potential alternative to permanent sterilization or existing methods that often have side effects. Our GrantMCI’s crucial support is instrumental in advancing the development of a novel, non-hormonal male contraceptive. Specifically, the funding and resources provided by MCI are facilitating the essential steps for the Investigational New Drug (IND) Enablement of a clinical-lead Soluble Adenylyl Cyclase (sAC) inhibitor. This cutting-edge compound is being developed as an on-demand contraceptive, offering men a reversible and convenient option for fertility control. The goal of this support is to accelerate the preclinical and manufacturing work necessary to file an IND application with regulatory bodies, thereby moving this promising male contraceptive candidate closer to clinical trials and, ultimately, to market.
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Publications
Sanchez NDRR, Ritagliati C, Kopf GS, Kretschmer S, Buck J, Levin LR. The uniqueness of on-demand male contraception. Mol Aspects Med. 2024 Jun;97:101281. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101281. Epub 2024 May 27. PMID: 38805792; PMCID: PMC11167369.
Gardner ER, Kopf GS, Buck J, Levin LR. Targeting soluble adenylyl cyclase for on-demand contraception. Physiology (Bethesda). 2026 Mar 17:10.1152/physiol.00009.2026. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00009.2026. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41843491; PMCID: PMC13078594.
Hess KC, Jones BH, Marquez B, Chen Y, Ord TS, Kamenetsky M, Miyamoto C, Zippin JH, Kopf GS, Suarez SS, Levin LR, Williams CJ, Buck J, Moss SB. The "soluble" adenylyl cyclase in sperm mediates multiple signaling events required for fertilization. Dev Cell. 2005 Aug;9(2):249-59. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2005.06.007. PMID: 16054031; PMCID: PMC3082461.
Gardner ER, Kopf GS, Buck J, Levin LR. Targeting soluble adenylyl cyclase for on-demand contraception. Physiology (Bethesda). 2026 Mar 17:10.1152/physiol.00009.2026. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00009.2026. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41843491; PMCID: PMC13078594.
Hess KC, Jones BH, Marquez B, Chen Y, Ord TS, Kamenetsky M, Miyamoto C, Zippin JH, Kopf GS, Suarez SS, Levin LR, Williams CJ, Buck J, Moss SB. The "soluble" adenylyl cyclase in sperm mediates multiple signaling events required for fertilization. Dev Cell. 2005 Aug;9(2):249-59. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2005.06.007. PMID: 16054031; PMCID: PMC3082461.
Meet MCI's Grantees & Fellows!
Our grantees and fellows represent some of the finest minds in the male contraception research community from around the world.
At Male Contraceptive Initiative, we prioritize funding research that aligns with our mission of driving male contraception closer to clinical trials. We strategically allocate our resources to support a diverse range of projects, focusing on non-hormonal and reversible methods that have the potential to meet the needs of a broader population. Our goal is to catalyze progress in this field and bring innovative male birth control options to market.
Discover the innovative research being conducted by our grantees and fellows by clicking on the buttons below:
At Male Contraceptive Initiative, we prioritize funding research that aligns with our mission of driving male contraception closer to clinical trials. We strategically allocate our resources to support a diverse range of projects, focusing on non-hormonal and reversible methods that have the potential to meet the needs of a broader population. Our goal is to catalyze progress in this field and bring innovative male birth control options to market.
Discover the innovative research being conducted by our grantees and fellows by clicking on the buttons below:
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