Vaginal ring releasing non-hormonal antibody contraception for month-long use
Official title: Clinical development of MM012, a vaginal ring releasing HCMA for month-long non-hormonal contraception
Funded at Mucommune, LLC · NIH-11464361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A monthly vaginal ring delivers a non-hormonal antibody-based contraceptive, offering a convenient, user-controlled option for women who want to avoid daily dosing or invasive procedures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mucommune, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morrisville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $31,395 |
| NIH project number | 1P50HD123737-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11464361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women seeking non-hormonal, long-acting contraception who prefer a non-daily method and are comfortable with a vaginal product.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking hormonal contraception, non-vaginal routes, or non-contraceptive uses may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a vaginal ring that slowly releases a highly multivalent contraceptive antibody across the fertile window. It uses a novel capsule-in-ring system to enable sustained release of large antibody molecules, addressing limitations of traditional polymer matrices. The goal is to provide a safe, effective, non-hormonal method that does not require timing with sexual activity. The work is focused on formulation, biocompatibility, and delivery in a real-world-use context to meet diverse reproductive health needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer women a long-acting, non-hormonal option that minimizes daily effort and hormone-related side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches struggled with sustained release of large biomolecules; this project uses a novel capsule-in-ring design that could overcome those challenges.
Where this research is happening
-
Mucommune, LLC
Morrisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kushiro, Keiichiro — Mucommune, LLC
- Study coordinator: Kushiro, Keiichiro
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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.