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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.  The foundation has partnered with NEXT Life Sciences to complete development of the product and bring it to market as Plan A. For information on Vasalgel, please contact NEXT Life Sciences.

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

The foundation also works on pet contraception, including hormone-sparing sterilization options and hormone restoration; noninvasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate); prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; and iron deficiency.

The Parsemus Foundation 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.

The foundation has also supported the development of the nonprofit Hormonally to ensure that evidence-based information about menopause hormone therapy is available to women and physicians.

For media coverage of our projects, please contact us at 

COVID-OUT Clinical Trial Results Summary

The key findings: The widely available diabetes drug metformin reduced severe outcomes of COVID-19 by 42% and reduced the incidence of Long COVID by 41% if taken shortly after symptoms of COVID-19. Metformin also reduced the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus. See our COVID page for more details.

Background: The COVID-OUT clinical trial was aimed at understanding if safe, commonly available medications may treat COVID-19 symptoms and those of long COVID. The study examined the medications metformin, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine, which are known to decrease inflammatory proteins (cytokines) in the body. This rigorous randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted by the University of Minnesota under the direction of Dr. Carolyn Bramante.

Funders: The Parsemus Foundation provided pilot funding and enrollment support to the University of Minnesota. Additional major funders include the University of Minnesota Clinical Translational Science Institute, the Rainwater Foundation, FastGrants, and UnitedHealth Group Research and Development.

Executive and Associate Headshots

Elaine Lissner,
Founder and Trustee, Parsemus Foundation and Revolution Contraceptives, LLC

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Linda Brent, PhD, MBA,
Executive Director, Parsemus Foundation

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Abraxas Adams,
Director of Operations, Parsemus Foundation

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Ben Carlson,
Communications, Parsemus Foundation

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The Risks of Spay & Neuter

Infographic about the health risks to dogs of gonadectomy

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Overview of Hormone-Sparing Sterilization

Printable handout by Parsemus Foundation

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Alternatives in Sterilization and Contraception in Dogs

Video presentation by Dr. Michelle Kutzler, 2021

Calcium Chloride Nonsurgical Neuter: Bibliography

Reference resource by Parsemus Foundation

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Hormone-Sparing Spay Advertisements (2)

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Printable ads (with crop marks) by Parsemus Foundation

PEMF for BPH in Dogs

Animated explainer video by Parsemus Foundation

Aqualabyrinth — a New Enrichment for Laboratory Zebrafish

White Paper by Dorothée Therrien and Aurore Dodelet-Devillers

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Hormone Therapy Facts

Infographic by Parsemus Foundation, showing the benefits and concerns of hormone therapy for menopause

Current Options in Male Contraception

Infographic by Revolution Contraceptives, data from United Nations World Contraceptive Patterns 2015

Male Contraceptive Myth Busting

Infographic by Male Contraceptive Initiative

Male Contraceptive Research Locations

Infographic by Male Contraceptive Initiative

Contraceptive Use by Method

2019 Report by United Nations Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs

Metformin for COVID19

Infographic by Parsemus Foundation, showing that Metformin reduced Long Covid by 41%

Metformin for COVID19 Handout

One-page handout by the Parsemus Foundation on the use of metformin to treat COVID-19

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How Vaccines Work

Infographic by Parsemus Foundation, showing how vaccines work

Trained Innate Immunity

Infographic by Parsemus Foundation, showing how vaccines can offer protection beyond the target diseases

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BPH Symptoms and Prostate Size

Animated infographic comparing growing prostate size to real-world objects, based on age range.