Population Council

Name

Population Council

Legal name

The Population Council, Inc.

Website

https://popcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reproductive Health Research and Development

NAICS

Family Planning Centers (621410), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) (HLAJAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Communicable Disease Prevention & Control (HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, NTDs) (BPADAIAA), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

Keywords

• Reproductive health research
• Contraceptive development
• HIV prevention technologies
• Global health research
• Biomedical product development

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Population Council is an international nonprofit research organization that conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research to address critical issues in sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, adolescent wellbeing, and climate resilience. Through its Center for Biomedical Research (CBR), it develops contraceptives, multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs), and HIV prevention products—holding seven FDA-approved products—and licenses them to commercial partners for manufacturing and distribution while providing technical assistance and evidence to governments and NGOs worldwide.

Product overview

The Population Council, through its Center for Biomedical Research (CBR), develops a comprehensive portfolio of sexual and reproductive health products including contraceptives and multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs). The portfolio consists of FDA-approved products (ParaGard®, Mirena®, Norplant®, Jadelle®, Annovera®) and products in development including male contraceptives (NES/T Gel), female contraceptives (vaginal rings), and multipurpose prevention technologies that combine HIV/STI prevention with contraception. The organization operates as a research institution that develops products through preclinical to clinical stages, then partners with pharmaceutical companies for commercialization, as exemplified by the Duchesnay partnership for PrRingza™ and Contraline for NES/T Gel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Biomedical Research (CBR): A vibrant hub of scientific investigation and product development at Rockefeller University in New York City, developing innovative contraceptives and products for sexual and reproductive health.
• GIRL Center
• Humanitarian Task Force (HTF)
• PERCC Initiative
• GEJE

Products and services

• NES/T (Nestorone/Testosterone) Male Contraceptive Gel A once-daily topical gel combining Nestorone and testosterone that suppresses sperm production while maintaining healthy testosterone levels. The first male contraceptive to reach late-stage clinical development.
• Dapivirine Vaginal Ring (Monthly) A long-acting monthly dapivirine vaginal ring (also known as the PrEP ring) for HIV prevention in women.
• Three-Month Dapivirine Vaginal Ring A three-month dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV prevention, a line-extension of the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring.
• Dapivirine-Levonorgestrel Vaginal Ring A user-controlled dual-purpose vaginal ring that can prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of HIV.
• Dual Prevention Pill A pill for the prevention of both HIV and unintended pregnancy in a single tablet, developed in partnership with Medicines360.
• Nestorone/Estradiol Vaginal Ring A vaginal ring designed to have fewer side effects compared to ethinyl estradiol products currently on the market.
• Nestorone-only Vaginal Ring A vaginal ring designed as an option for those with estrogen sensitivities, those at higher risk of VTE, and postpartum breastfeeding mothers.
• EEQ Intravaginal Ring (Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol, and QGriffithsin) A vaginal ring for the prevention of pregnancy and HIV, combining three active ingredients in a single product.
• Non-hormonal Vaginal Ring A user-controlled, multipurpose prevention, non-hormonal intravaginal ring that provides contraception and protection against sexually transmitted infections.
• Fast-dissolving Insert (FDI) A self-administered, nonhormonal contraceptive fast-dissolving insert for on-demand prevention of pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections.
• Nestorone for Multiple Sclerosis A Nestorone formulation to treat multiple sclerosis, reduce symptoms, and delay disease progression.
• PrRingza Contraceptive Vaginal System A reusable silicone contraceptive vaginal ring offering up to one year of contraception with only one pharmacy visit per year, delivering segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol. Launched in Canada in 2026 by partner Duchesnay based on Council-developed Annovera technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 170 million people worldwide use contraceptive products developed by the Council
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DuchesnaycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 7 April 2026Duchesnay, a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, launched PrRingza (based on Annovera), a contraceptive vaginal system developed in collaboration with the Population Council. The silicone ring offers up to one year of contraception and is the first country to introduce this product globally. The Population Council developed the one year contraceptive vaginal ring (which received US FDA approval in 2018 as Annovera) and licensed it to Duchesnay for market access.
• IIHMR University JaipurminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026IIHMR University organized a Global AI Health Summit with participation from Population Council and other organizations including PwC, Narayana Health, Sandoz, Novo Nordisk, Wadhwani AI. The conference aligned with India's MANAV AI framework for ethical AI in healthcare.
• ContracealinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Contracealine executed a global exclusive license agreement for NES/T male contraception gel with the Population Council. Contraline assumed leadership of late-stage development and regulatory engagement. The product combines Nestorone and testosterone in a once-daily topical gel. Contraline raised $92.5M Series B to advance the product into Phase 3 trials, expected to be the first Phase 3 trial of a hormonal male contraceptive in history.
• IPM South Africa NPCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022In 2022, the Population Council acquired the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), including its South African affiliate IPM South Africa NPC. The affiliate continues to drive innovation and access in HIV prevention, providing expertise in clinical trials, community engagement, regulatory compliance, and market access for the dapivirine vaginal ring.
• NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIH NICHD co-developed the NES/T male contraceptive gel and provided support for Phase 2b clinical trials involving 462 couples. The institute continues to support Phase 3 development through funding and scientific collaboration.
• Medicines360minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to pursue agreement to develop a dual prevention pill to prevent both HIV and unintended pregnancy for worldwide distribution.
• Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrusted partner of the Government of India along with global donors such as BMGF, USAID, World Bank. Council's India offices have vast experience in research implementation and evaluation programs.
• Ethiopian Government MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with government ministries for programs addressing adolescent girls, child domestic workers, and girls at risk of forced/child marriage.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FHI 360: FHI 360 is a large global health and development nonprofit conducting biomedical, behavioral, and social science research across SRHR, HIV, and infectious disease. It is a direct peer to Population Council in scale, mission, and donor mix (USAID, Gates Foundation).
• PATH: PATH is a global health innovation nonprofit that develops and introduces health technologies, including contraceptives, MPTs, and devices. Like Population Council, it operates as a product-development partnership bridging research and commercialization in low-resource settings.
• Guttmacher Institute: Guttmacher Institute is a leading research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights. It mirrors Population Council's evidence-generation, policy advocacy, and journal publishing activities in SRHR.
• IPAS: IPAS is a global nonprofit focused on reproductive health and rights, including contraception, abortion care, and gender-based violence. It is a direct peer in mission, donor base, and country presence in LMICs.
• Jhpiego: Jhpiego is a global health nonprofit affiliated with Johns Hopkins, focused on reproductive, maternal, and newborn health. It is a direct peer in programmatic scale, USAID funding, and LMIC country office network.
• AVAC: AVAC is an HIV-prevention advocacy and research organization that works on PrEP rollout, including the dapivirine vaginal ring. It is a direct peer to Population Council's HIV-prevention policy and product-access work.
• Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE): CHANGE is a US-based nonprofit advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights in US foreign policy. It is a direct peer in the policy-advocacy and gender-equity dimensions of Population Council's work.

Broad incumbents

• International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF): IPPF is a global federation delivering family planning and SRHR services across 120+ countries. It is a broad incumbent peer in mission and geographic reach, but focuses on direct service delivery rather than biomedical R&D.
• UNFPA: UNFPA is the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health. It is a broad incumbent peer shaping SRHR funding and policy globally, awarded the Council a UNFPA Medal - they operate as funder/convener rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Medicines360: Medicines360 is a nonprofit pharmaceutical company developing women's health products, and is the Council's co-development partner on the Dual Prevention Pill. It is an emerging player with overlapping technology and mission focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pop_council
• Facebookfacebook.com/popcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Population Council