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A landmark multi-country study has uncovered unprecedented global demand for novel male contraceptives. Spanning six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the United States, this study—the largest of its kind—surveyed 18,748 men and 9,122 of their female partners. The results indicate a robust latent demand for new male contraceptive methods, with the potential to reshape reproductive health and contraception worldwide. Key Findings of the Landmark Study:
 Time to Trial for a Male Contraceptive A Decades-Long Gap Filled: Relevance to 20 Years of Male Contraceptive Research This landmark study fills a crucial gap in research that has spanned more than two decades. Previous studies, such as those reviewed by Reynolds-Wright et al., found a third or more of men willing to use male contraceptives, but those assessments were often limited to hypothetical scenarios without specific product details. The current study, which based its questionnaire on potential products currently being developed, not only surpasses earlier efforts in scope and geographic reach but also provides granular insights into men’s preferences for product attributes, marking a significant step forward for the field. Post-Dobbs Decision: Urgent Relevance for Male Contraceptive Development The 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion in the U.S., has had sweeping consequences for reproductive health. As the legal landscape has changed, so has the demand for contraceptives. The study’s findings, gathered both before and after the decision, underscore the urgency for new male contraceptives. With restricted access to abortion, novel male methods offer an opportunity to reduce unintended pregnancies and the need for abortions, benefiting both women and men by sharing contraceptive responsibilities more equitably. Potential for Gender Equity and Improved Relationship Dynamics With over 218 million women in LMICs lacking access to modern contraceptives, and nearly half of all pregnancies classified as unintended, the development of male contraceptives could shift the burden of contraception to a more balanced approach. The study shows that both men and women want this shift, which has the potential to improve reproductive outcomes, reduce unintended pregnancies, and foster healthier relationship dynamics by equalizing contraceptive responsibility. A Call for Investment in Male Contraceptive Innovation With more than 23 male contraceptive products currently in development, including several in human clinical trials, the study calls on global health leaders, funders, and policymakers to invest in advancing these innovations. The data provides compelling evidence that male contraceptives can address significant unmet needs, enhance gender equity, and contribute to reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions worldwide. For further inquiries, please contact:
Steve Kretschmer: [email protected] or Sabey Boswell: [email protected] This study was generously funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Male Contraceptive Initiative. About the Authors: Japneet Kaur is a consultant at Alstonia Impact in Bangalore, India and Dhananjay Vaidyanathan Rohini is Founder and Partner at Alstonia Impact, based in New Delhi, India. LinChiat Chang and Allie Gugliotti are independent data scientists in Cape Town, South Africa and Maryland, USA respectively, and Steve Kretschmer is the Founder and Executive Director of DesireLine, based in Istanbul, Turkey. About Male Contraceptive Initiative: Male Contraceptive Initiative’s vision is “Reproduction Autonomy for All”, and works to accomplish this by bringing new male contraceptives to market. The non-profit accomplishes this through direct funding, technical support, research, and advocacy. MCI believes that couples deserve options and that they offer the biggest potential impact by focusing on male contraceptives. It’s time men are given more opportunities to contribute toward family planning. To learn more, please visit: https://www.malecontraceptive.org/
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Durham, NC- Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has provided start-up funding to Better Birth Control, to support their work in advocating for male contraception. This grant from Male Contraceptive Initiative reaffirms the organization’s continued commitment to global advocacy for male contraception, as Better Birth Control leads advocacy efforts in Berlin, Germany and across Europe. This grant shows MCI’s multi-pronged approach to advancing male contraception through not only funding support for the research and development of male birth control, but also supporting organizations doing essential work in advocating for male contraception. Better Birth Control has successfully petitioned the German government for improved contraceptive options, including more options for people of all genders. This resulted in the inclusion of pro contraceptive language in the platforms of four of the German political parties for the 2021 federal election. Additionally, Better Birth Control has successfully advocated for the inclusion of contraceptives for all genders in the German research and development budget, resulting in a 2024 line item allocating up to five (5) million Euros in grant funding to the contraceptive R&D community. "MCI is excited to support Better Birth Control to continue their impactful advocacy efforts for male contraception and reproductive health. Their impressive track record positions them as a growing leader in the field, and we're delighted to have them as a partner." Heather Vahdat, Executive Director, Male Contraceptive Initiative MCI's support will enhance Better Birth Control's engagement with German and EU regulatory agencies, streamlining the development and introduction of male contraceptives across Europe. Additionally, both organizations will collaborate with European partners to champion global access to affordable male contraceptives, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Better Birth Control will also act as a key liaison between the German Ministry of Research and MCI, facilitating information exchange on funding opportunities and strategizing for the advancement of male contraceptive products in Europe. “We are incredibly grateful for Male Contraceptive Initiative’s support, which strengthens our mission to advocate for male contraception worldwide. This grant allows us to amplify our efforts in Germany, Europe and across the globe, bringing us closer to a future where reproductive responsibility is shared and everyone has a right to reproductive freedom and well-being." Jana Pfenning and Rita Maglio, Co-Founders of Better Birth Control MCI seeks to advance advocacy of contraception for men or people who produce sperm in order to achieve its organizational vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”. MCI’s mission is, “To empower men, and couples, to fully contribute to family planning goals by providing them the resources they need for reproductive autonomy.” About Better Birth Control: Better Birth Control is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for a wider range of safe and effective birth control methods for people of all genders. Their efforts include public education campaigns, legislative advocacy, and fostering collaboration across the field of male contraception.
About Male Contraceptive Initiative: Male Contraceptive Initiative’s vision is “Reproduction Autonomy for All”, and works to accomplish this by bringing new male contraceptives to market. The non-profit accomplishes this through direct funding, technical support, research, and advocacy. MCI believes that couples deserve options and that they offer the biggest potential impact by focusing on male contraceptives. It’s time men are given more opportunities to contribute toward family planning. To learn more, please visit: https://www.malecontraceptive.org/ Durham, NC – Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has provided funding in the amount of $400,000 USD to Sacyl Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to support the development of a novel on-demand, non-hormonal male contraceptive. This most recent grant from Male Contraceptive Initiative reaffirms the organization’s continued commitment to the male contraception research and development community and its ongoing efforts to bring new methods of male contraception to market. “Market research demonstrates that about half of men in the U.S. and even greater proportions of men in select low- and middle-income countries are seeking more options to participate in contraception with their partners. We are confident that the time is right to vigorously support the talent and energy in the field of non-hormonal male contraception, and this grant solidifies our partnership with Sacyl Pharmaceuticals, which exemplifies our vision for a future where family planning is shared by both partners,” said MCI Executive Director Heather Vahdat. “Sacyl Pharmaceuticals is a particularly exciting investment as a potential non-hormonal on-demand method that would provide a very exciting, user-friendly contraceptive option to men who have had to rely on only two methods of birth control for decades: condoms and vasectomy,” Ms. Vahdat added. Sacyl Pharmaceuticals is working towards innovative contraceptive solutions, leveraging the genetically and pharmacologically validated contraceptive target soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC; ADCY10) into on-demand options for men and women. The male non-hormonal contraceptive that Sacyl Pharmaceuticals is developing is intended to be an on-demand method which temporarily inhibits the ability of sperm to swim as well as blocking their capacity to fertilize, effectively rendering those taking the contraceptive infertile for a short period of time. MCI’s support facilitates the development of novel sAC inhibitors as on-demand contraceptives for men by optimizing the safety and efficacy of new compounds. These steps are crucial to overcome the high bar that will be required of any new contraceptive product. “We are grateful to MCI for their dedication to supporting innovation in male contraception and for recognizing the transformative potential of our work,” said Steve Kretschmer, Sacyl Pharmaceutical’s Chief Executive Officer. “At Sacyl Pharmaceuticals, we are diligently working to meet the needs of people under-served by the existing contraception method mix, and we are very grateful for MCI’s continued support of our mission and vision to reduce unintended pregnancies worldwide.” Sacyl Pharmaceutical’s approach would be ground-breaking: a very fast acting temporary contraceptive pill taken shortly before sex which protects against pregnancy for a defined period of time, and would be retaken whenever needed. “It is critically important that we develop, in parallel, a robust and diverse mix of contraceptive products for men in order to ensure that individual’s unique needs and interests are meaningfully addressed. Sacyl Pharmaceuticals and their potential method represent an exciting opportunity to do just this by providing an on-demand, short-acting, and reversible contraceptive for male users,” said MCI Chief Research Officer Dr. Logan Nickels. With over $14 million invested in product development, MCI seeks to advance male contraceptive research projects to market in order to achieve its organizational vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”. MCI’s mission is, “To empower men, and couples, to fully contribute to family planning goals by providing them the resources they need for reproductive autonomy.” About Sacyl Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Sacyl Pharmaceuticals is a biotech startup in the New York Metropolitan Area that aims to develop potent soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) inhibitors into first-in-class systemic, non-hormonal, on-demand contraceptives for men and women with the goal to significantly contribute to increased use of modern contraceptives among couples to reduce unintended pregnancies, improving families’ health and well-being globally. To learn more, please visit: https://www.sacylpharma.com/
About Male Contraceptive Initiative: Male Contraceptive Initiative’s vision is “Reproduction Autonomy for All”, and works to accomplish this by bringing new male contraceptives to market. The non-profit accomplishes this through direct funding, technical support, research, and advocacy. MCI believes that couples deserve options and that they offer the biggest potential impact by focusing on male contraceptives. It’s time men are given more opportunities to contribute toward family planning. To learn more, please visit: https://www.malecontraceptive.org/ Durham, NC – One year following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, overturning Roe v. Wade, a groundbreaking market research study co-funded by Male Contraceptive Initiative and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation reveals a remarkable surge in interest for male birth control across the United States.
The study, designed and conducted by Outsight4Development, Alstonia Impact and DesireLine, investigated interest in new forms of male birth control in Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Vietnam, and the United States, whose geographies represent >50% of the global unmet need for family planning. It is the largest international market research study about male birth control conducted to date, and it found that men all over the world are ready for new methods of birth control and willing to use them if made available. The U.S. research, originally conducted in April 2022 before the Dobbs decision, provided the research team and its funding partners the opportunity to re-field the survey in the U.S. in May 2023 to assess the impact of the decision on men’s perceptions of male contraceptives in development and readiness for using them if made available by.The impact has been significant, as the percentage of U.S. men willing to use a new contraceptive method within the first 12 months of it’s approval and market introduction jumped by 26%, from 39% of sexually active men ages 18-60 years, to nearly half (49%). “Prior to the Dobbs decision, we confirmed substantial interest by men in the United States for new methods of male birth control. We expected an uptick in the follow-on research, but the significant level of the increase was both unanticipated and encouraging,” said Steve Kretschmer, Executive Director of DesireLine, one of the organizations co-funding the re-field and conducting the research. “Clearly the restrictions that the Supreme Court’s decision enacted has inspired men to want to take on a more active role in family planning,” Kretschmer added. “We were incredibly disappointed when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, as everyone working in reproductive health was,” stated Heather Vahdat, Executive Director of Male Contraceptive Initiative. “However, in light of this affront to reproductive rights, it has been heartening to see how engaged and motivated the response has been,” Vahdat added. The results of the international market research study, including the updated comparative data from the United States pre- and post-Dobbs decision, will be presented during a webinar on June 28th at 11a EST. Individuals interested in attending this presentation are encouraged to do so via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6fj_5E9-SVen0_MUgGzsQg Durham, NC – Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has partnered with the pharmaceutical company Eppin Pharma to provide a Program Related Investment (PRI) of up to $800,000 to support clinical trial activities for the company’s novel short-term, non-hormonal oral male contraceptive pill.
This is the latest PRI from Male Contraceptive Initiative and represents the organization’s continued evolution as it seeks to expand its support of the male contraception research and development community. “We are very excited about adding additional program related investments to our portfolio as a means of accelerating male contraceptive product development through a collaborative, ‘team science’ approach. Returns on these investments will go directly back into supporting research efforts to continue driving the field of non-hormonal male contraception forward,” said MCI Executive Director Heather Vahdat. “Eppin Pharma is a particularly exciting investment opportunity as they have been integral at advancing the non-hormonal male contraceptive field in an effort to revolutionize family planning by providing reproductive equity to men who still have to rely on only two methods of birth control: condoms and vasectomy,” Ms. Vahdat added. Eppin Pharma’s lead male contraceptive candidate is a small organic compound that binds to EPPIN, a protein on the surface of human sperm, resulting in the loss of the sperm’s ability to properly function. The non-hormonal treatment Eppin Pharma is developing is intended to be fast-acting and does not affect the production of sperm. MCI’s investment in Eppin Pharma will be used to establish proof-of-concept of safety and feasibility of their contraceptive method as they prepare for human clinical trials. This is an important first step prior to conducting a larger efficacy study required for gaining regulatory approval and widespread consumer access to the therapeutic. “We have been excited about Eppin’s work since 2019, when we provided them with an initial grant to advance their work. Given the success of their science to date, we are pleased to expand our collaboration as Eppin Pharma represents the forefront of pharmacologic, non-hormonal male contraceptive methods,” said MCI Research Director Dr. Logan Nickels. “We are grateful to MCI for their dedication to supporting innovation in male contraception and for recognizing the transformative potential of our work,” said Dr. Michael O'Rand, Eppin Pharma’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “At Eppin Pharma, we are dedicated to developing new options for men who desire to take control of their fertility and we look forward to advancing our method to clinical trials in the near future,” added Dr. O’Rand With over $10 million invested in product development, MCI seeks to advance male contraceptive research projects to market in order to achieve its organizational vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”. MCI’s mission is, “To empower men, and couples, to fully contribute to family planning goals by providing them the resources they need for reproductive autonomy.” -------------------------------------------------- About Eppin Pharma: Eppin Pharma Inc. of Durham, North Carolina, is an emerging pharmaceutical company focused on developing a safe, effective short-term, non-hormonal oral male contraceptive pill. Eppin Pharma’s lead male contraceptive candidate is a small organic compound that binds to EPPIN, a protein on the surface of human sperm, resulting in the loss of sperm motility. This non-hormonal treatment is fast acting and does not affect the production of sperm. Eppin Pharma’s prime mission is to develop a male contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancies with no side effects. Eppin Pharma’s vision is to provide a new male contraceptive that will revolutionize family planning. Please visit their website for more information: https://eppinpharmainc.com/. About Male Contraceptive Initiative: Male Contraceptive Initiative’s vision is “Reproduction Autonomy for All”, and works to accomplish this by bringing new male contraceptives to market. The non-profit accomplishes this through direct funding, technical support, research, and advocacy. They believe that couples deserve options and that they offer the biggest potential impact by focusing on male contraceptives. It’s time men are given more opportunities to contribute toward family planning. Durham, NC (January 12, 2022) - Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a private non-profit foundation, announced the formation of a for-profit subsidiary called Contraceptive Accelerator Network. The small, mission-centric pharmaceutical company was created with the specific intent of ensuring that promising non-hormonal, reversible contraceptive targets receive the support necessary to develop them as next generation birth control methods delivered to those who produce sperm. The two entities will work in close collaboration to identify promising male contraceptive targets 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 and when appropriate. “Developing a new, agile business model for accelerating the development of promising male contraceptive targets was a core objective of MCI’s strategic plan put forth in 2019,” said Heather Vahdat, Male Contraceptive Initiative’s Executive Director, adding, “It is incredibly exciting to see CAN materialize, and with it comes tremendous optimism for the near future of non-hormonal, reversible male contraception research and development.” Contraceptive Accelerator Network’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Rusnak stated that, “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.” With over $7 million invested in male contraceptive product development, MCI continues to push male contraceptive research projects towards commercialization, and CAN is the organization’s latest step in bringing the next generation of sperm-targeting contraception to market. MCI’s mission is to facilitate research and development of male contraceptives for people around the world, and to build awareness among researchers, donors and the general public about the demand for and status of novel male contraceptive methods. Through its funding efforts, the non-profit has championed this mission in manifold ways: investing in promising product development through this and other rounds of funding, supporting students and young professionals through fellowships and travel grants, and consistently advocating with the public and media for an increased method mix that includes male contraception. Durham, NC - Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a private non-profit foundation, announced a David Sokal Innovation Award grant to Dr. Rahima Benhabbour an assistant professor in the UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering and an adjunct professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, to support research and development of male contraceptive methods. This raises MCI’s total commitment to male contraception to nearly $6 million USD since 2017. Dr. Benhabbour will receive $150,000 to aid her work towards developing long-acting delivery systems for male contraceptives. Specifically, the project focuses on using a novel long-acting implant that can be injected under the skin, forming a reversible implant that can deliver male contraceptives over a sustained period. Dr. Benhabbour explains, “We are excited to develop an LA in-situ forming implant (ISFI)-based drug delivery system of non-hormonal male contraceptive(s) (NH-MC(s)) that can address the limitations of short-acting NH-MCs. The ISFIs will be injected subcutaneously to form a biodegradable drug/polymer implant and provide sustained and controlled delivery of a non-hormonal male contraceptive. These implants can be safely removed to terminate contraception or in the case of an undesired side effect or allergic response.” The David Sokal Innovation Awards from Male Contraceptive Initiative are named after the co-founder of Male Contraceptive Initiative, Dr. David Sokal, MD, who has consistently advocated for contraceptive innovation over a long career in contraception and health. Sokal Awards are intended to spur new avenues of thinking in contraceptive development as well as public understanding. With nearly $6 million invested in male contraceptive product development, MCI seeks to push male contraceptive research projects towards commercialization. There are a variety of male contraceptive research projects in the drug development pipeline; from early stage screening of drugs to studies that pave the way for early clinical trials. MCI’s mission is to facilitate research and development of male contraceptives for people around the world, and to build awareness among researchers, donors and the general public about the demand for and status of novel male contraceptive methods. Through its funding efforts, the non-profit has championed this mission in multiple ways: investing in promising product development through this and other rounds of funding, supporting students and young professionals through fellowships and travel grants, and consistently advocating with the general public and media for an increased method mix that includes male contraception in order for all people to attain reproductive autonomy. “The number of men and their partners expressing the desire for male contraceptive options continues to increase. Part of MCI’s dedication to accelerating product development includes thinking proactively about how to ensure a variety of delivery options. We are pleased to be able to get behind the talent and energy of Dr. Benhabbour in order to achieve a real vision for a shared contraceptive future,” said MCI Executive Director Heather Vahdat. About Male Contraceptive Initiative: Male Contraceptive Initiative works to bring new male contraceptives to market. We accomplish this through direct funding, technical support, research, and advocacy. We believe that couples deserve more contraceptive options and that we offer the biggest potential impact for them by focusing on male contraceptives. It’s time men are given more opportunities to contribute toward family planning.
Planned Parenthood North Central States Launches New Study Gauging Interest in Male Contraceptives3/25/2021 Study will learn about contraception preferences of people who produce sperm.
St. Paul, MN — Planned Parenthood North Central States is launching a two-year study into the contraception interests and preferences of people who produce sperm and their partners, thanks to a grant from the Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI). Information on how people will perceive expected new advances in contrasperm, or male contraception, technologies is critical to the success of the emerging new birth control methods. “People of all genders deserve the opportunity to control their sexual and reproductive health, and we’re all aware that the responsibility of preventing unwanted pregnancies tends to fall heavily on the people who can get pregnant,” said PPNCS Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sarah Traxler. “For decades, researchers have been working to develop contraceptive technologies focused on sperm, but many individuals still believe that people won’t use these new products. Now, our research team is going to tackle that assumption head-on and build a study that asks individuals about their attitudes and preferences around emerging contrasperm methods.” Current contraceptive methods for people who produce sperm include condoms, vasectomies and the withdrawal method. Researchers across the globe have been developing other contraception options, including hormonal and non-hormonal methods targeted at sperm, and it is expected that these products will hit the market over the next 10 years. “More and more men are expressing the desire do their part to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies. We are confident that the time is right to emphatically get behind the talent and energy in the field to achieve a real vision for a shared contraceptive future,” said MCI Executive Director Heather Vahdat. The two-year study will include surveys to explore interest and acceptability of future contrasperm options, and more in-depth interviews about underlying personal and social values and norms. The study will focus both on potential users of contrasperm methods and their sexual partners. “My biggest take-away from every conversation that I’ve had about this issue is that there is overwhelming interest and demand for new contrasperm technologies,” said lead PPNCS Principal Investigator Alison Ojanen-Goldsmith, MPH, MSW. “Our study is a strong step forward in understanding what it will take to realize the extraordinary potential for these new technologies and make more inclusive family planning methods a practical reality.” Research topics that will be explored include the target audiences’ perceived benefits and concerns about the new contrasperm technologies. Ultimately, study sponsors hope the research findings will increase awareness about contrasperm methods and inform the development of successful medical and public health outreach messages. “This is about gender equity and reproductive justice in sexual and reproductive healthcare, and about access to contraceptive products that will help people exercise bodily autonomy and fully participate in family planning,” PPNCS Co-Principal Investigator Asha Hassan, MPH added. “Our study will help guide the development of contraception options that work for many different people.” Durham, NC & Bar Harbor, ME - Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a private non-profit foundation, announced five grants, including a grant to Dr. Robert Braun, Professor and Janeway Distinguished Chair at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), to support research and development of male contraceptive methods, raising MCI’s total commitment to male contraception to over $5 million USD since 2017. Dr. Braun will receive $150,000 to aid his work towards developing a novel form of male contraception alongside collaborators at Weill Cornell Medicine. The project focuses on using video capture and artificial intelligence (AI) to assess the efficacy of a short-acting male contraceptive. Dr. Braun explains, “The development of an on-demand non-hormonal male contraceptive would provide an unmet need for couples and individuals either not able or willing to use female contraceptives or physical barriers like condoms. Modeling a male contraceptive in mice is limited by current knowledge of the latency and frequency of mounting and intromission during standard breeding experiments. Our collaborators, Drs. Lonny Levin and Jochen Buck, have in development reversible, dose- and time-dependent pharmacological agents against soluble adenylyl cyclase, an enzyme required for sperm function. The David Sokal Innovation Award from Male Contraceptive Initiative will allow us to develop video monitoring and automated analysis of mating behavior to assist in testing the efficacy of these pharmacological inhibitors. Development of machine learning-assisted automation of video recordings of murine breeding behavior will inform the efficacy of on-demand contraceptive modeling in mice, detect alterations in mating behavior related to drug or vehicle injection, and possibly reveal novel mating behaviors during normal breeding environments or after drug exposure.” With over $5 million invested in male contraceptive product development, MCI seeks to push male contraceptive research projects towards commercialization. There are a variety of male contraceptive research projects in the drug development pipeline; from early stage screening of drugs to studies that pave the way for early clinical trials. MCI’s mission is to facilitate research and development of male contraceptives for people around the world, and to build awareness among researchers, donors and the general public about the demand for and status of novel male contraceptive methods. Through its funding efforts, the non-profit has championed this mission in manifold ways: investing in promising product development through this and other rounds of funding, supporting students and young professionals through fellowships and travel grants, and consistently advocating with the public and media for an increased method mix that includes male contraception. “More and more men are expressing the desire to participate in contraception with their partners. We are confident that the time is right to emphatically get behind the talent and energy in the field in order to achieve a real vision for a shared contraceptive future,” said MCI Executive Director Heather Vahdat. About Male Contraceptive Initiative: Male Contraceptive Initiative works to bring new male contraceptives to market. We accomplish this through direct funding, technical support, research, and advocacy. We believe that couples deserve more contraceptive options and that we offer the biggest potential impact for them by focusing on male contraceptives. It’s time men are given more opportunities to contribute toward family planning.
About The Jackson Laboratory: The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with more than 2,300 employees. Headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine, it has a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, a genomic medicine institute in Farmington, Conn., and facilities in Ellsworth and Augusta, Maine, in Sacramento, Calif., and in Shanghai, China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. For more information, please visit www.jax.org. Durham, NC - Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a private non-profit foundation, announced five new grants totalling $900,000 in funding to support research and development of male contraceptive methods, raising their total commitment to male contraception to over $5M USD since 2017. Researchers at Eppin Pharmaceuticals Inc. will receive $300,000 to aid in their work developing novel forms of male contraception. Their project is focused on developing a hormone-free pill that men can use daily or potentially just before sex to contracept. Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Planned Parenthood North Central States, and Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME) in Argentina will also receive $150,000 each for projects that include AI-guided analysis of mouse mating, surveys on the acceptability of male methods of contraception, and finding new routes of developing novel, non-hormonal male contraceptives. With over $5 million invested in male contraceptive product development, MCI seeks to push male contraceptive research projects towards the market. In the landscape of male contraception research, these grants fund a variety of projects with a wide range of impact from early stage screening of drugs, up to studies that pave the way for early clinical trials, and efforts to understand the product characteristics that appeal to men and their partners. The organization’s mission is to facilitate research and development of male contraceptives for people around the world, and to build awareness among researchers, donors, and the general public about the demand for and status of novel male contraceptive methods. Through its funding efforts, the non-profit has championed this mission in manifold ways: investing in promising product development through this and other rounds of funding, supporting students and young professionals through fellowships and travel grants, and consistently advocating with the public and media for an increased method mix that includes male contraception. “More and more men are expressing the desire to participate in contraception with their partners. We are confident that the time is right to emphatically get behind the talent and energy in the field in order to achieve a real vision for a contraceptive future,” said MCI Executive Director Heather Vahdat. Logan Nickels, Research Director at MCI added, “A rising tide lifts all boats, and we’re seeing more interest come about due to our support of exciting, promising male contraceptive research. By maintaining a diverse portfolio of projects we intend to create opportunities for products with new characteristics that change what people think about contraception.” About Male Contraceptive Initiative: Male Contraceptive Initiative works to bring new male contraceptives to market. We accomplish this through direct funding, technical support, research, and advocacy. We believe that couples deserve more contraceptive options and that we offer the biggest potential impact for them by focusing on male contraceptives. It’s time men are given more opportunities to contribute toward family planning.
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