The Opportunity
Sacyl Pharmaceuticals (SACYL) aims to develop potent soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) inhibitors into first-in-class systemic, non-hormonal, on-demand contraceptives for men and women with the goal to significantly contribute to increased use of modern contraceptives among couples to reduce unintended pregnancies, improving families’ health and well-being globally.
Nearly half of all pregnancies, totaling 121 million each year throughout the world, are unintended.[1] Globally, an estimated 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe, modern methods of contraception because most are hormonal, require chronic use and cause undesirable side effects.[2] Only half of the individuals in relationships can contribute effectively to closing the gap in modern contraceptive use due to lack of options for men beyond condoms and vasectomy.
Market research conducted in May 2023 reveals that 49% of the 81 million sexually active cis-gender men aged 18-60 in the United States would try novel male contraceptive methods within the first 12 months of their release, and 82% indicated they would consider using such contraceptives at some point after their introduction. The same research showed even higher intent to use novel male methods among men in 6 lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs): Bangladesh, Vietnam, Kenya, Nigeria, DR Congo and Cote d’Ivoire, with a high of 76% of men in Nigeria and Bangladesh intent to try within 12 months and low of 52% of men in Kenya.
Form and time of administration drive choice among potential options for novel male contraceptives and on-demand pill and transdermal gel methods lead preferences.
Modeling based on these data and similar data assessing demand for novel female hormonal contraceptives in development indicates the greatest opportunity to increase modern contraceptive usage to reduce unintended pregnancies among couples is with the introduction of novel male contraceptives. The research results show men want them, intend to use them and most women will trust them to do so to prevent pregnancy.
Out-of-pocket willingness to pay data results indicate a multi-billion dollar annual sales opportunity for male contraceptives in the United States alone. Large LMIC markets such as Nigeria show opportunities up to annual sales of $1 billion.
[1] Guttmacher Fact Sheet; Bearak J et al., Unintended pregnancy and abortion by income, region, and the legal status of abortion: estimates from a comprehensive model for 1990–2019, Lancet Global Health, 2020, 8(9), full text