Oral FSH receptor activator drugs to lower infertility treatment costs
Official title: Translational Development of novel oral FSH receptor allosteric agonists for more affordable treatment of infertility
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11464481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new oral drug approach aims to improve fertility treatments by using a small molecule that activates the FSH receptor, potentially making infertility care more affordable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $459,425 |
| NIH project number | 1R61HD123492-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11464481 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals and couples dealing with infertility who are candidates for ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not seeking ovulation induction or those unlikely to benefit from oral FSH receptor activation may see no advantage.
What this research studies
This project focuses on making infertility treatments cheaper and easier to access by developing orally active compounds that stimulate the FSH receptor. It builds on prior work with animal models to estimate how potent these compounds are when given by mouth. The goal is to adapt existing ovarian stimulation models to better predict success with these oral agents while avoiding higher risks of multiple pregnancies. If successful, this could lead to more convenient, cost-effective options for people seeking fertility treatment who currently face high out-of-pocket costs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the oral FSH receptor activator is effective, it could lower treatment costs and simplify ovulation induction for many patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has explored oral agents affecting ovarian biology, with promising but early results in predicting potency and permeability.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Palmer, Stephen Sunderland — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Palmer, Stephen Sunderland
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.