Good morning! Kamala Harris breaks her post-election silence, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warns Trump against barbs, and luckNina Ajemian reports on the state of male birth control amid a turbulent political environment for women’s health and drug approval. Have a relaxing weekend.
– In control. For years, reproductive freedom advocates have been waiting for the arrival of male birth control (in addition to condoms and vasectomy). New options are finally coming to market as the second Trump administration enters the White House.
It’s an issue where the Trump White House could be a bit of a wild card. On the one hand, the conservative 2025 project threatens women’s access to birth control, not only allowing employers to opt out of covering it, but also limiting the contraceptive methods that can be covered under the Affordable Care Act. But male birth control has the luxury of being “removed from the whole debate” about abortion, says Darlene Walley, CEO of Next Life Sciences’ Plan A, a male contraceptive in development. Most women know that treatments for men and women are viewed differently, such as how insurance companies cover birth control. Compared to Viagra. Trump’s Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on the other hand, is open to the FDA and its review. drug approval process as new treatments seek FDA approval.
“We’re in a transition period, and the time is right for male contraception to really come out and enter the market,” says Heather Vahdat, executive director of the advocacy group Male Contraceptive Initiative. There have been attempts to market products before, but no male contraceptive has cleared the three-phase tests. Lack of funding from pharmaceutical companies and serious side effects have hindered. (Men have been more reluctant suffer side effects and it has been more difficult to accept the treatments, because pregnancy does not pose a physical risk for men).
One such birth control method is Next Life Sciences. Plan AA non-hormonal, reversible male contraceptive that lasts 10 years and is included in an outpatient procedure. Expected to enter clinical trials in the first quarter of 2025, Plan A uses a hydrogel that acts as a filter to prevent sperm from moving through the vas deferens. The company plans to complete FDA submission, approval and commercialization in 2027. “We hope that by giving the other half of the population the ability to participate in birth control, we can have a significant impact on pregnancies.” Walley says. Another is Contraline, which is also developing a hydrogel – This is called ADAM – and it is expected to start human clinical trials in early 2027.
It may not be fair to treat male birth control as a separate issue from abortion rights while women’s birth control is used as a political point, but the introduction of male contraception can benefit women. Even the founders of women’s health companies see it this way. “My passion project after this business would be to mainstream male birth control because I think it’s so unfair that it all falls on women,” says Jamie Norwood, founder of women’s health brand Winx.
“Male contraception is a female reproductive health product,” says Vahdate. “The goal will be to stop referring to it as male versus female contraception. Any contraceptive is ultimately trying to prevent unintended pregnancy.”
Nina in Ajemia
nina.ajemian@fortune.com
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MOVERS AND ACCELERATORS
Samsung designated Kim Kyung-Ah President and CEO of biopharmaceutical company Samsung Bioepis; She is the first woman outside the company’s founding family to lead a Samsung company in 86 years. Previously, Kim was EVP of Samsung Bioepis.
Heritage Grocers Group, a specialty grocer for the Hispanic community, was named Suzy Monford president and CEO. He is currently the CEO of Food Sport International.
It’s called LLYC, a marketing and corporate affairs consultancy Luisa Garcia Senior Director of Corporate Affairs. García is a partner and former director of the company.
It was appointed by Latecoere, a supplier to the aerospace industry Sam Marnick Latecoere President of America. Marnick, who sits on Latecoere’s board of directors, most recently served as CEO and president of the commercial business at Spirit AeroSystems.
WesBanco, a banking company, was appointed Jan Pattishall-Krupinski as senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer. Most recently, he was EVP and COO.
Ziff Davis, a digital media and internet company, was named Lori Tansley as chief accounting officer. Most recently, Tansley was CEO and Chief Accounting Officer of Ankura Consulting Group.
Burlington Stores, an off-price retailer, was nominated Shira Goodman to its board of directors. He was previously CEO of Staples.
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PART WORDS
“Women’s sports are not charity or discount; it’s not $10 tickets. These are the best players in the world who deliver incredible football… If they are still in doubt, they are not making it.“
-Julie Uhrman, founder and president of Angel City FC, In the NWSL’s historic 2024 season
