The Parsemus Foundation
News: Our work towards international introduction of a
new male contraceptive featured in WIRED and the Wall Street Journal!
Finding low-cost solutions neglected by the pharmaceutical industry.
The Parsemus Foundation works to advance innovative and neglected medical research. The foundation’s focus is on supporting small proof-of-concept studies and then pursuing press coverage of the results, so that the advances change treatment practice rather than disappearing into the scientific literature. Many of the studies we support involve low-cost approaches that are not under patent. When supporting development of technologies under patent, Parsemus Foundation coordinates with larger funders to make sure support is contingent upon strong public-sector pricing agreements.
Current areas of focus are contraceptive development (particularly long-acting nonhormonal male methods), nonhormonal contraception/nonsurgical sterilization for animals, and testing the use of a radical approach -- hormones (an estrogen-progesterone-androgen regimen) instead of hormone inhibitors -- to increase survival and quality of life after breast cancer treatment. Parsemus is also funding a study of low-cost commercially-available anti-inflammatory medicines started early, rather than steroids started late, in treatment of muscular dystrophy. And that’s not all-- some additional projects are listed in the page links above.
Applications for support are by invitation only except where specifically noted.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
Breast cancer:
After breast cancer, menopausal women are given an expensive pill for five years that blocks all remaining estrogen in their body, thereby reducing breast cancer recurrence by starving the breast (and the rest of the body) of estrogen. However, women who take this medicine pay a price -- increased joint pain, increased cognitive difficulties, increased bone fractures, and in general, feeling old too young. Parsemus Foundation is funding a study of a counterintuitive, nearly opposite approach which nevertheless appears, in epidemiological studies, to increase survival: high-quality estrogen supplementation (rather than current opposite approach, estrogen blockers), but paired with bioidentical testosterone and cycling bioidentical progesterone to counterbalance the stimulatory effect of estrogen in the breast. We hope to see similar or improved survival, with much better quality of life, from this cost-effective but counterintuitive approach. The study runs 2008-2012. June 2011 update: We’ve received the 10-month results and they’re very exciting and promising. You can track the study’s progress:
ACTION REVISED TIMELINE STATUS
Acquire Mice Weeks 1-12, 24-26 November 2008 DONE
Pilot experiments 12/2008 through 3/2009 DONE
Quarterly progress report due May 2009 DONE
Hormone dosing experiments, blood collection,
serum separation, hormone analysis,
pilot MCF-7 transplant experiment, etc. Weeks 13-29 March through July 2009 DONE
Delay- summer travel embargo for deliveries July 2009 through Sept. 2009
Perform ovariectomies, tumor transplant,
hormone treatment, etc. Weeks 30-32 October 2009 DONE
Delay
Quarterly progress report due February 2010 DONE
Analysis and testing Weeks 56-58 July 2010 DONE
Quarterly progress report due July 2010 DONE
Quarterly progress report due November 2010 DONE
Analysis and testing Weeks 84-86 February 2011 DONE
Quarterly progress report due February 2011 DONE
Quarterly progress report due May 2011 DONE
Analysis and testing Weeks 110-112 August 2011
Quarterly progress report due August 2011
Quarterly progress report due November 2011
Analysis and testing Weeks 136-138 February 2012
Quarterly progress report due February 2012
Final Report May 2012
Breast cancer:
In early 2009 Parsemus Foundation provided bridge funding to the laboratory of Dr. Carlos Sonnenschein at Tufts University to retain staff while they seek to make up for a grant that was unexpectedly cancelled. Dr. Carlos Sonnenschein and Dr. Ana Soto collaborate to study the effect of toxins (such as Bisphenol A) on breast cancer, and to create a living 3D model of breast cancer cells and their surroundings in order to account for the effect of the cells' surroundings (the stroma) on their growth or inhibition. One aspect of their work we are particularly interested in is their results showing that though estrogen stimulates breast cancer cells, it also seems to affect their surroundings (the stroma) in a way that helps keep the cells in check. Link to Sonnenschein laboratory
Development of new contraceptives:
Parsemus Foundation has licensed the rights to begin developing RISUG long-acting vas deferens contraceptive for use outside India; it will be called Vasalgel in the U.S. See the new male contraceptives page for more information. Background info about RISUG can be found at the Male Contraception Information Project.
Development of new contraceptives:
From 2007 to 2010 Parsemus Foundation funded Family Health International, teamed with the University of North Carolina, to test a 6-month non-hormonal method of contraception for men. FHI and UNC worked to see whether they could duplicate the results published elsewhere in the 1970's and 1980's, which indicated that in rats, 10-30 minutes of ultrasound applied to the testes can produce 6 months of contraception. Data from the final pilot study were analyzed in 2009, and it appears that the investigators have identified a combination of conditions that reliably reduces sperm count. Preliminary results from pilot studies were presented as a poster at the North American Testes Workshop, April 2009, and the last pilot study was completed in 2009. With proof of concept, the University of North Carolina team subsequently won a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations grant, announced in May 2010, to pursue this research. Parsemus Foundation is also supporting an Italian team to continue their successful work on ultrasound as permanent sterilization in dogs. To read a history of ultrasound research, refer to the ultrasound page of the Male Contraception Information Project. We are cautiously optimistic about what would be an incredible addition to couples’ contraceptive options, especially since the required equipment is already sitting in physical therapists’ offices worldwide.
Development of new contraceptives:
Because ultrasound is looking effective at eliminating motile sperm in rats, the foundation has also sponsored a study of ultrasound in monkeys at the University of California. Monkeys have testes similar in size to humans. There was one researcher who was the obvious choice with the necessary sperm expertise, and we are pleased to report that the researcher’s university agreed to completely change the monkeys’ housing conditions for us, to meet the strict new European standards and the recommendations of the U.K. National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. News June 2011: After many months of struggle, the researchers seem to have found the right conditions to get the ultrasound to work in monkeys too. Results will be reported in 2012.
Animal contraception/nonsurgical sterilization:
In 2008/2009 Parsemus Foundation become active in Animal Grantmakers
and the nonprofit Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
and plans to coordinate with other funders to pursue development and affordable pricing of promising nonsurgical sterilization methods. For example, Parsemus Foundation has funded the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs to study an FDA-approved nonsurgical sterilant for dogs (Neutersol/Esterilsol) in a geographically-contained mountain area in Guatemala which has requested help with a dog overpopulation problem. Over 100 male dogs have been sterilized and are being monitored for complications, providing valuable information that will help foundations and animal welfare organizations decide how enthusiastic to be about supporting approval and use in additional countries. The main injection phase of the study was conducted by Veterinarians without Borders (Canada) in January 2009. Preliminary results are extremely encouraging, with only one non-minor complication (requiring scrotal ablation) out of 127 dogs. (download report) However, given the lack of data -- or even informed estimates -- on when and where sterilizing males actually makes a population difference, we will not be supporting manufacturing this product for U.S. use (although we do hope the company will bring it to market). However, we are working on bringing another injectable sterilant for males (see below) to the attention of larger funders, as well as being involved in some promising research for nonsurgical sterilization of female dogs that is just starting.
Animal contraception/nonsurgical sterilization:
In December 2009 and February 2010, Parsemus Foundation’s director got to witness demonstrations of another injectable sterilization for male dogs, this one with a difference: it knocks out testosterone -- and thus some roaming, packing, fighting, and associated dog bites -- more than Neutersol. Given the lack of clarity about population impact of sterilizing males, reducing male behavior is the primary reason welfare groups castrate male dogs -- so one would think such a potential method would be welcomed, particularly since it seems easier to inject than Neutersol. We have found our colleagues’ reaction to this sterilant cautious, though. Parsemus Foundation is working with the researchers to gather, present, and publish additional data to address funders’ concerns, starting with a poster presentation at the 4th International Symposium on Non-surgical Contraceptive Methods of Pet Population Control, April 8-10, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. See the “Nonsurgical dog sterilization- Males” page for more information.
Animal welfare:
Most of Parsemus Foundation's projects are investments in the future that will have a long-term payback if successful. For more immediate impact, Parsemus Foundation supports one organization providing direct services for the welfare of animals: a European nonprofit run on a shoestring by dedicated, skilled, web-savvy advocates. The project creates maximal impact with minimal funding by addressing the street dog situation in Romania, where the situation is so dire that street dogs are routinely poisoned en masse by city governments. Besides being barbaric, extermination does nothing to address overpopulation, as dogs quickly breed to refill a given ecosystem. This grantee has set up model programs in several towns, using TNR (trap-neuter-release), housing/treating as many dogs as it can that are not fit to be released back to the streets, and arranging international adoptions (once these dogs are rehabilitated) to open up space to shelter new dogs. It has already survived the financial crisis, and we look forward to seeing whether this group can be an example to others by turning the tide in its chosen towns without being overwhelmed or ground down by the bureaucracy, corruption, and everyday brutalities it confronts.
Breast cancer prevention, and animal sterilization (dual applicability):
In the laboratory, researchers sometimes inject alcohol (ethanol) into the mammary ducts of rodents to clear out the mammary fat pads before implanting human tumor tissue they want to study. It’s a quick way to clean out the mammary ducts just like drain cleaner would clean out a pipe -- and the ducts are where most cancer forms. We wondered whether this same technique could be used to prevent mammary cancer in dogs, so when they are sterilized they could keep their ovaries (just removing their uterus) and avoid the health problems that come from estrogen deprivation. And while we’re at it, how about preventing breast cancer in humans, too? A respected researcher we work with agreed that it made sense to at least check it out in a few rats. So far, it’s looking awfully good. For more information on this project, see the breast cancer prevention page.
Slowing the progression of muscular dystrophy:
Parsemus Foundation has funded a study of low-cost commercially-available anti-inflammatory medicines started early, rather than steroids started late, in treatment of muscular dystrophy. Should this treatment be successful, it could potentially extend the life of children/young adults with muscular dystrophy by several years. Current steroid therapy has so many side effects that eventually patients can no longer tolerate it, at which point their options are exhausted. The alternate approach worked remarkably well in this study in mice (just as well as the steroids), and results should be published in 2011.
Last update June 14, 2011
