Organon and Schering to continue research in male fertility control separately
Organon and Schering AG announced that their research collaboration into a male hormonal contraceptive will conclude at the end of the phase II clinical trial. Both companies described the collaboration as constructive, but came to the conclusion that the administration route investigated in the trial, which combined an annual implant with three-monthly injections, would unlikely result in a product that would be acceptable for widespread everyday use. Both companies remain committed to research in male contraception and will build on the knowledge gained from the collaboration to seek improvements in how such a contraceptive can be better administered.
The collaboration was announced in November 2002. The phase II trial which started in January 2004, was designed to test the reliability and acceptability of two hormones in combination which were known to have a suppressive effect on sperm production.
The trial medication and modes of administration were based on results from earlier studies showing that sperm production could be suppressed to contraceptive levels by the progestogen etonogestrel given as a subcutaneous implant, which was developed by Organon. While, at the same time, the resulting testosterone deficiency could be minimized with an injection of long-acting testosterone undecanoate, developed by Schering. Data from the trials will be jointly published upon final analysis.
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