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Population Council
biomedical scientists are engaged in every aspect of contraceptive
development. They identify new drugs and delivery systems. They undertake
the requisite animal and preclinical research. They analyze clinical
findings. And they submit documentation of results to regulatory
authorities for permission to conduct human trials or to distribute new
methods after completion of Phase 3 trials.
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New products would allow a woman to apply contraceptive spray
or gel to her forearm, leg, or abdomen. See
"Innovative Contraceptive Gels and Sprays Enter Clinical
Testing," Momentum, December 2007 (full
text)
(PDF)
Photo credit: Karen Tweedy-Holmes |
The Council's
International Committee for Contraception Research (ICCR) comprises
distinguished scientists and clinical investigators from around the world.
The group conducts clinical trials of the Population Council's
candidate contraceptives. Members of the ICCR and their staff at
cooperating universities and clinics help define the needs of the field, contribute ideas for new methods, establish the efficacy of the new
methods, and enroll and follow up subjects in Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical
trials.
Products under
development for men have included subdermal implants and a
novel approach that involves temporarily perturbing the attachments
between cells in the testis. Methods under development for women have included spermicides and microbicides, subdermal implants, intrauterine delivery
systems, vaginal rings, and transdermal systems.
Research on
existing contraceptive products
The Population Council also continues
to test its already-approved products to provide data for changes in the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–sanctioned
labeling. For example, the Council and the World Health Organization
continued clinical trials
on the Copper T 380A intrauterine device (IUD) to prove the method's
efficacy up to 10 years.
(This IUD was approved for 8–10 years of use in 1994.) Similarly,
studies have demonstrated that Norplant® implants can be used safely and
effectively through seven years (instead of five) and that Jadelle®
implants can be used through five years (instead of three). The new data
were provided to regulatory
authorities so that changes in the labeling could be authorized. In 2002 the
FDA approved Jadelle for five years of use.
See Also
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What's New |
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World Contraception Day, 26 September, is an
international campaign to educate couples about the importance of
contraception and reproductive health. (more)
Planned Parenthood Federation of America honors distinguished
reproductive health scientist Irving Sivin. (more)
Fertiring®, a vaginal ring used to deliver progesterone during in
vitro fertilization, is now available in Chile. Previously, the
only option for women undergoing this procedure was a series of painful
daily intramuscular injections. In addition to being more comfortable,
the efficiency of Fertiring’s delivery system allows a smaller drug dose
to be administered. Studies show that the ring is as effective as the
shots. The ring is available via prescription, used for up to 90 days,
and then discarded. Fertiring, which contains natural progesterone, was
developed by the Population Council, the Chilean Institute of
Reproductive Medicine, the Reproductive Medicine Clinic at Las Condes,
and Silesia Laboratories.
Stay Informed
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Publications/Resources |
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"Building on decades of success: Pioneering
contraceptive research and products" (2008) (PDF)
(PDF en español)
"New vistas in contraceptive technology" (2008) (abstract)
"Delivery options for contraceptives" (2005) (abstract)
"Vaginal delivery of contraceptives" (2005)
(abstract)
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