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Gregory Pincus—Codeveloper of “The Pill”
STAMP VIGNETTE ON MEDICAL SCIENCE
Gregory PincusdCodeveloper of “The Pill” Marc A. Shampo, PhD, and Robert A. Kyle, MD
T
he 2 names associated with the development of “The Pill”dthe oral contraceptive agent for humansdare Gregory Goodwin Pincus (1903-1967) and John Charles Rock (1890-1984). Endocrinologist-biologist Gregory Pincus conducted the early experimental work on laboratory animals and then collaborated with gynecologist-obstetrician John Rock on the clinical application. “The Pill” initiated a worldwide sociomedical revolution. Pincus was born on April 9, 1903, in Woodbine in southern New Jersey, about 20 miles southwest of Atlantic City. His father was a teacher and editor of a farm journal. In 1924, Pincus received a BS degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, after which he attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where in 1927 he was awarded an ScD degree in genetics and physiology. Pincus was a fellow of the National Research Council from 1927 to 1930, and as a fellow, he attended Cambridge University (England) from 1929 to 1930 and worked at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin (Germany) in 1930. In 1930, he returned to the United States to become an instructor in biology at Harvard University; in 1931, he was promoted to assistant professor. Pincus was visiting professor at Cambridge University in 1937-1938. In 1938, he was named professor of experimental zoology at Clark University in Worcester (40 miles west of Boston). In the early 1930s, Pincus began studying the effects of hormones on the reproductive process in mammals. In 1941, while at Clark University, Pincus brought about the first fatherless mammalian birth in history by inducing parthenogenesis in a female rabbit. From 1939 to 1941, his work was subsidized by a Guggenheim fellowship, and in 1942, he and a colleague at Clark University developed a quick-freeze method for preserving living sperm. In 1944, Pincus founded the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology in Shrewsbury (in central Massachusetts near Worcester) and became director of its laboratories. At the time, he was also a professor at Clark University (until 1945) and a research professor in physiology at Tufts Medical School
(until 1950) in Boston. In 1950, he was named professor of research at the graduate school of Boston University. In 1951, Pincus and his colleague Min Chueh Chang (1908-1991) began to search for a progestin (a synthetic progesterone) that would be feasible for wide use as a birth control agent. After experimenting with more than 200 substances, they found 3 steroid compounds that could be useful. They found that these 3 substances, present in the root of Dioscorea (a wild Mexican yam), prevented ovulation in laboratory animals and had a molecular structure similar to that of progesterone. During this time, John Rock was working at the Fertility and Endocrine Clinic of the Free Hospital for Women in Brookline, Massachusetts, and using supplementary progesterone to cure infertility in childless patients. Beginning in December 1954, Rock used synthetic drugs as substitutes for natural progesterone in treating volunteers among his Brookline clinic patients; and he achieved a considerable degree of success. Pincus asked Rock to join him in conducting field trials. Pincus had been in touch with Rock from time to time many years before this request was made. Beginning in 1956 and under the general supervision of Pincus, full trials for the contraceptive effectiveness of the pill were conducted successfully among hundreds of women in Brookline, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and elsewhere. In 1957, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of the steroids as specified for miscarriage and certain menstrual disorders. In 1960, the FDA licensed the first oral contraceptive (Enovid, a preparation of estrogen and progesterone) for sale as a contraceptive agent. Pincus was the author of The Eggs of Mammals (1936) and The Control of Fertility (1965) as well as numerous articles in professional journals. He was a member of many professional organizations and societies. Pincus died in Boston on August 22, 1967; he was 64 years old. In 1994, the Philippine Islands indirectly honored him and John Rock by issuing a stamp (Scott No. 2317) promoting the International Year of the Family.
Mayo Clin Proc. n February 2013;88(2):e15 n http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.01.025 www.mayoclinicproceedings.org n ª 2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
From the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
e15
Gregory PincusdCodeveloper of “The Pill” Marc A. Shampo, PhD, and Robert A. Kyle, MD
T
he 2 names associated with the development of “The Pill”dthe oral contraceptive agent for humansdare Gregory Goodwin Pincus (1903-1967) and John Charles Rock (1890-1984). Endocrinologist-biologist Gregory Pincus conducted the early experimental work on laboratory animals and then collaborated with gynecologist-obstetrician John Rock on the clinical application. “The Pill” initiated a worldwide sociomedical revolution. Pincus was born on April 9, 1903, in Woodbine in southern New Jersey, about 20 miles southwest of Atlantic City. His father was a teacher and editor of a farm journal. In 1924, Pincus received a BS degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, after which he attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where in 1927 he was awarded an ScD degree in genetics and physiology. Pincus was a fellow of the National Research Council from 1927 to 1930, and as a fellow, he attended Cambridge University (England) from 1929 to 1930 and worked at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin (Germany) in 1930. In 1930, he returned to the United States to become an instructor in biology at Harvard University; in 1931, he was promoted to assistant professor. Pincus was visiting professor at Cambridge University in 1937-1938. In 1938, he was named professor of experimental zoology at Clark University in Worcester (40 miles west of Boston). In the early 1930s, Pincus began studying the effects of hormones on the reproductive process in mammals. In 1941, while at Clark University, Pincus brought about the first fatherless mammalian birth in history by inducing parthenogenesis in a female rabbit. From 1939 to 1941, his work was subsidized by a Guggenheim fellowship, and in 1942, he and a colleague at Clark University developed a quick-freeze method for preserving living sperm. In 1944, Pincus founded the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology in Shrewsbury (in central Massachusetts near Worcester) and became director of its laboratories. At the time, he was also a professor at Clark University (until 1945) and a research professor in physiology at Tufts Medical School
(until 1950) in Boston. In 1950, he was named professor of research at the graduate school of Boston University. In 1951, Pincus and his colleague Min Chueh Chang (1908-1991) began to search for a progestin (a synthetic progesterone) that would be feasible for wide use as a birth control agent. After experimenting with more than 200 substances, they found 3 steroid compounds that could be useful. They found that these 3 substances, present in the root of Dioscorea (a wild Mexican yam), prevented ovulation in laboratory animals and had a molecular structure similar to that of progesterone. During this time, John Rock was working at the Fertility and Endocrine Clinic of the Free Hospital for Women in Brookline, Massachusetts, and using supplementary progesterone to cure infertility in childless patients. Beginning in December 1954, Rock used synthetic drugs as substitutes for natural progesterone in treating volunteers among his Brookline clinic patients; and he achieved a considerable degree of success. Pincus asked Rock to join him in conducting field trials. Pincus had been in touch with Rock from time to time many years before this request was made. Beginning in 1956 and under the general supervision of Pincus, full trials for the contraceptive effectiveness of the pill were conducted successfully among hundreds of women in Brookline, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and elsewhere. In 1957, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of the steroids as specified for miscarriage and certain menstrual disorders. In 1960, the FDA licensed the first oral contraceptive (Enovid, a preparation of estrogen and progesterone) for sale as a contraceptive agent. Pincus was the author of The Eggs of Mammals (1936) and The Control of Fertility (1965) as well as numerous articles in professional journals. He was a member of many professional organizations and societies. Pincus died in Boston on August 22, 1967; he was 64 years old. In 1994, the Philippine Islands indirectly honored him and John Rock by issuing a stamp (Scott No. 2317) promoting the International Year of the Family.
Mayo Clin Proc. n February 2013;88(2):e15 n http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.01.025 www.mayoclinicproceedings.org n ª 2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
From the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
e15