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Strategies to facilitate the development of new contraceptives

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery volume 3, pages 885–890 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Contraception is not readily accessible to much of the world's population and, in any case, no method is 100% effective or appropriate for all users. There is a pressing need for new methods to address the diverse requirements of the global community of men and women at all stages of their reproductive lives. This article will look at some of the new opportunities in contraceptive research and highlight strategies to overcome old challenges for the development of novel contraceptives.

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Figure 1: Overview of the major steps in reproduction.
Figure 2: The spectrum of biomedical research displayed as a linear process from the earliest discovery to clinical application.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its generous support of this study and also the members of the Institute Of Medicine study committee who were, without exception, involved, constructive, and hard working. The committee included L. Brannon-Peppas, R. E. Braun, M. L. Cohen, V. E. Cullins, J. E. Darroch, M. Fathalla, L. C. Giudice, A. Glasier, M. Harper, G. S. Kopf, M. M. Matzuk, R. Merkatz, N. Padian and R. L. Sitruk-Ware

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Study Director at the Institute of Medicine, the National Academies, 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington DC, 20001, USA

    Sharyl J. Nass

  2. Chair for the Committee on New Frontiers in Contraceptive Research, and Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Jerome F. Strauss III

Authors
  1. Sharyl J. Nass
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  2. Jerome F. Strauss III
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Correspondence to Sharyl J. Nass.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Nass, S., Strauss, J. Strategies to facilitate the development of new contraceptives. Nat Rev Drug Discov 3, 885–890 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd1526

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