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Parsemus Foundation Press Information

About the Parsemus Foundation

The Parsemus Foundation works to create meaningful improvements in human and animal health and welfare by advancing innovative and neglected medical research. The foundation supports proof-of-concept studies and then seeks to raise awareness of results, to ensure that they change treatment practice rather than disappear into the scientific literature. Many of the studies the foundation supports involve low-cost approaches that are not under patent, and are thus unlikely to be pursued by pharmaceutical companies due to limited profit potential.

The Parsemus Foundation’s main focus has been developing Vasalgel as a non-hormonal male contraceptive. For information on Vasalgel, including publications, past press coverage, images, infographics and media resources, please see the Revolution Contraceptives website.

For information on the development of non-hormonal male contraceptives, visit the Male Contraceptive Initiative.

The foundation also works on pet contraception, including calcium chloride nonsurgical neuter and hormone-sparing sterilization options; noninvasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate); and serves as a resource for information on over-used medical procedures, innovative breast cancer treatment, aldosterone and hearing, and the effect of testosterone and DHA on Alzheimer’s disease.

A major effort since 2020 has been addressing the need for research on COVID-19 treatments. The Parsemus Foundation has supported clinical studies on the effectiveness of existing medications to treat COVID infection, including enrollment support for the University of Minnesota’s COVID-Out trial.

For media coverage of our projects, please contact us at media@parsemusfoundation.org

Latest News

COVID-Out Clinical Trial

The COVID-Out clinical trial is aimed at understanding if safe, commonly available medications may treat COVID-19 symptoms and those of long COVID. The study examines the medications metformin, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine, which are known to decrease inflammatory proteins (cytokines) in the body. They also appear to possibly stop the proteins inside cells that help viruses reproduce and spread. This randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted by the University of Minnesota under the direction of Dr. Carolyn Bramante.

The Role of the Parsemus Foundation

The Parsemus Foundation provided pilot funding to the University of Minnesota to initiate the COVID-Out study. Additional major funders include the University of Minnesota Clinical Translational Science Institute, the Rainwater Foundation, FastGrants, and UnitedHealth Group Research and Development.

Importantly, the Parsemus Foundation supported and coordinated enrollment advertising efforts for the trial. This included development of educational materials, oversight of online advertising, and initial screening of interested individuals. This work helped to increase enrollment and reach the target number of patients more quickly – so that results of this important trial could be reported and influence standards of COVID treatment.