The Once-a-Month Pill of the Future

The birth control pill ranks high in popularity for its low cost and ease-of-use—but requires vigilance in taking daily doses.
 
A star-fish-shaped slow-release capsule developed by a team from the lab of Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Robert Langer could change that. They engineered a way to help the pill survive harsh digestive systems, and it showed promise in tests on pigs.
 
It’s still years away in people—but the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is putting $13 million into R&D. Researchers envision that someday, the technology could be blended with other drugs like anti-HIV pills for at-risk women.

AP