In the 1970s, contraceptive pills were the most frequently used contraceptive method in Western countries. In Germany, for example, one in three women used the pill. It’s safe, reliable, covered by (most) health insurance, and was also seen as a means of self-determination for women, especially in the 1960s and 1970s.
However, over time, many side effects associated with hormonal contraceptive methods have become apparent, ranging from nausea, weight gain, and breast tenderness to more serious risks such as high blood pressure, liver dysfunction, and thrombosis. Some medications, such as certain antibiotics and St. John’s wort products, can make the tablets less effective.
Rejection of pills is on the rise
Although side effects are relatively rare, concerns about the risks have contributed to reduced acceptance of the pill. According to a recent study by the German Federal Center for Health Education, from 2023 onwards fewer women and couples will use the pill for contraception. Condoms have replaced the pill as the most important contraceptive method, especially among young adults.
The research team UKB, led by Dr. Claudia Tredup and Professor Stefan Knapp of the Institute of Medicinal Chemistry at the Goethe University Frankfurt, Professor Daniel Merck of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Professor Hubert Scholl of UKB, who is also a member of the Interdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) “Life and Health” at the University of Bonn, and Professor Jean-Pierre Allam, Head of the Department of Male and Female Studies, is currently working on the development of contraceptives that do not rely on hormonal mechanisms and have particularly low side effects. To achieve this objective, they launched the PREVENT project (“Precise Reproductive and Contraceptive Target Discovery Network”) and secured three-year project funding from the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space.
Active substances for new contraceptive strategies
“Hormonal contraceptive methods, such as contraceptive pills, interfere with the body’s natural hormonal cycles. At PREVENT, we are investigating alternative non-hormonal approaches for both women and men to provide couples with additional contraceptive options,” explains Dr. Claudia Tredup, head of the PREVENT project and Goethe University Frankfurt Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
The PREVENT team’s research approach focuses on so-called small molecules that specifically block proteins that are only present in sperm or egg cells. For example, small molecules can specifically target sperm and prevent them from reaching the egg cell. Professor Tredup explains: “Because contraceptives are administered to healthy people, they must not only be reliable and reversible, but also safe and well-tolerated.”
Considering these complex requirements, the search for suitable active substances is extremely difficult. Therefore, the PREVENT team will develop a drug discovery platform to establish the technology and tools to validate the concept of non-hormonal contraceptives. Highly selective and effective compounds, so-called “chemical probes”, enable targeted testing of new contraceptive strategies and provide a solid foundation for preclinical and subsequent clinical development.
We already know many genes associated with infertility. The PREVENT team hopes to build the expertise necessary to use the corresponding proteins as target structures for safe non-hormonal contraceptive strategies. ”
Dr. Claudia Tredup, Biochemist, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt
She believes this is more than just a classic pharmaceutical research project. “With PREVENT, we are also addressing key social goals of reproductive self-determination and global health policy.
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Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
