In the aftermath of the thalidomide tragedy, the FDA advised excluding females in the childbearing age from early-stage clinical trials. However, this policy resulted in the prolonged underrepresentation of women in clinical research, limiting knowledge about how drugs affect genders differently. Recent policy changes, including the NIH's emphasis on considering sex as a biological variable, aim to reduce these disparities by promoting more diverse clinical trial participation. This article explores the current landscape of endometriosis therapies and how it relates to women’s healthcare.

October’s molecule, the Bayer hGnRH-R antagonist BAY 1214784 , is intended as an oral, once-daily treatment for uterine fibroids, a highly common problem in adult women that can lead to infertility. Existing treatments include hGnRH-R blockers which have undesirable side effects such as induction of menopausal symptoms due to their influence [...]

YCT529 ( YourChoice ) is a potential non-hormonal male contraceptive with impressive preclinical oral efficacy that is expected to enter clinical development in the first half of 2023. This retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR-α) antagonist, discovered by Gunda Georg ’s lab at the University of Minnesota, was first disclosed in 2022 and [...]

sAC as a target for male contraception. Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is one of several ACs that catalyze the cyclization of ATP to form cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). cAMP is the second messenger in several signaling pathways including that which activates sperm to be capable of fertilizing eggs (“ capacitation ”). The target is [...]

The Zentalis Wee1 inhibitor, ZN-c3 , is a highly selective kinase inhibitor that is currently being evaluated in Ph. II clinical trials in adult women with recurrent or persistent uterine serous carcinoma (USC). The starting pyrazolopyrimidinone series was from the WO2013126656 patent, and while the molecule is similar to other kinase [...]

October’s molecule, the Bayer hGnRH-R antagonist BAY 1214784 , is intended as an oral, once-daily treatment for uterine fibroids, a highly common problem in adult women that can lead to infertility. Existing treatments include hGnRH-R blockers which have undesirable side effects such as induction of menopausal symptoms due to their influence [...]