Quick Hits: Monthly Birth Control Pill is on the Horizon

When ingested, the capsule dissolves and the silicone arms stretch out into a starfish shape that’s wide enough to prevent it from passing through the pylorus to the intestines, keeping it in the stomach. The pill breaks down naturally in the stomach and loses arms, allowing it to pass through the digestive tract around the 21-day mark. The new method was successfully tested on pig, and will likely begin human testing in 2021. Earlier this year, Lyndra Therapeutics received $13 million from the Gates Foundation to advance the pill to human trials with a goal of bringing it to low- and middle-income countries.