When I began writing my last article, The Gentleman’s Guide to Birth Control, I knew I wanted to talk to Plan A. I’ve been following them for years, reading the results of all their trials, and feeling confident I was watching the creation of something amazing for men and families. Could this be the first highly effective, long-acting, reversible male contraceptive?
I reached out to Plan A for an interview so my readers could learn more about this option, how it works, how effective it is, and how likely we are to see this on the market in the near future.
While my interviews are typically shared only with paid subscribers, I wanted to ensure all my readers could share my excitement about Plan A™ and Vasalgel®. Without further ado, please enjoy my email interview with L.R. Fox.
Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions about the exciting world of Plan A! First of all, what are your name and pronouns, and what do you do for Plan A?
My full name is L.R. Fox (he/him) but you can call me Fox for short. I’m the CEO of NEXT Life Sciences, where we’re bringing together some of the world’s most accomplished vasectomists, hydrogel experts, and contraceptive leaders to bring Plan A™ and its core technology, Vasalgel®, to market as the world’s first non-hormonal, long-acting, and reversible male contraceptive.
What is Plan A? How does it work?
Plan A™ involves delivering a special hydrogel into the vas deferens with a quick outpatient visit; in our design, this hydrogel acts as a flexible filter that stops the flow of sperm and can be easily reversed through a simple follow-up. This well-researched and revolutionary hydrogel, Vasalgel®, coupled with our new, minimally-invasive delivery and reversal methods, comprise the contraceptive system known as Plan A™.
Our goal for Plan A™ is for it to be a set-it-and-forget-it method of birth control for men and couples who want to plan pregnancy, while not limiting their ability to someday have children in the future.
What’s the effective rate of Plan A? I’ve been following Plan A for many years now - what trial stage is Plan A in now?
Vasalgel® has been going through years of development and testing - that’s where we’ve come in! With Plan A™, we’re finally expanding upon the decades of pre-clinical research and clinical experience that Vasalgel® has had, by bringing it into clinical trials and soon to the men and couples eagerly awaiting male birth control!
As we gear up for trials to begin this year, we will also be pursuing FDA and worldwide regulatory approval as soon as possible.
What’s the likelihood of Plan A going to market? What kind of timeline could people hope for?
We know men and women want (and deserve) real options for male contraception beyond vasectomies and condoms. The market need is there, and right now, demand is higher than ever.
We’re working hard to bring Plan A™ into the market as soon as possible! And with decades of pre-clinical and clinical research under our belts, we’re gearing up for the final stages of clinical trials before the end of this year.
How accessible would it be? How much would it cost? Would insurance cover it?
While it’s too early to determine cost, we’re designing Plan A™ with financial accessibility in mind. There is a growing demand for more options for birth control, and we are actively engaging with experts through our Community Access Plan to develop strategies to ensure Plan A™ is affordable and widely accessible to anyone who seeks it as an option.
Do you expect men to face any pushback from political leaders around access to Plan A?
We’re entering into a critical moment as the demand for birth control is increasing in the United States and men are more actively participating in family planning. Globally, demand for alternatives to the current options available is increasing as well.
In national surveys, upwards of 90% of Americans support the use of birth control – and that number is just as high among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Family planning is not a partisan issue, it’s one of the basic rights that most Americans can agree on.
What kind of risks does Plan A come with? How well would reversals work?
From pre-clinical data, we’re confident that Plan A™ will meet men’s needs for contraceptives and that men will be able to reverse it when they’ve decided they’re ready to have children. The FDA review and marketing approval processes ensure both the safety and efficacy of all products like Plan A™ that go to market in the United States.
What kind of demographic would realistically seek out this contraceptive?
Insurance data has shown that there’s an increase in younger men and men without children getting vasectomies now that Roe v Wade has been overturned, indicating men’s willingness to participate in family planning. A recent study by Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI) showed 17 million men would be early adopters of a new male birth control option, especially one that is long-lasting, reversible on-demand, and non-hormonal, such as Plan A™.
We’re currently seeing overwhelming demand and excitement generated by the possibility of effective male birth control options. Plan A™ would help meet this long-unmet and critical need – especially for younger men who have not yet decided if they are done having children.
Where should folks go for more information about Plan A?
We recommend anyone seeking out more information about NEXT Life Sciences or Plan A™ to sign up for our newsletter and find us online at PlanAforMen.com or @planaformen on social!
Anything else you want my readers to know?
We’re in a really exciting time for male contraception right now!
Statistics currently recognize that half of all pregnancies are unplanned worldwide, and the unintended pregnancy rate is significantly higher here in the U.S. than in many other developed countries. So in the U.S., the status quo can only offer couples a coin-flip odds of being able to make one of the most significant, impactful decisions of your life.
Right now, women, men, and couples are reevaluating how they can take control over their own reproductive lives, and that often means finding the birth control solution that fits their needs. I believe for far too long we haven’t focused enough on male contraceptive options in our society, and men are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to participate in family planning alongside their partners.
Effective, reversible birth control options for men will be a game-changer for society worldwide – and I’m thrilled that our work with Plan A™ is able to be part of this revolution!
The Future of Male Birth Control with L.R. Fox