Carl Djerassi

Carl Djerassi (born October 29, 1923 in Vienna, Austria), is a chemist and playwright best known for his contribution to the development of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP). He invented synthetic progesterone (norethindrone and norethynodrel) which, unlike natural progesterone, remained effective when taken orally and was far stronger than the natural version. His preparation was first administered as an oral contraceptive by Gregory Pincus, John Rock, and Min-Cheuh Chang. Djerassi remarked that he did not have birth control in mind when he began working with progesterone - "not in our wildest dreams... did we imagine (it)", though he is now referred to by some as the father of the pill. He is also the author of the novel Cantor's Dilemma, in which he explores the ethics of modern scientific research through his protagonist, Dr. Cantor.

References

• {{Book reference | Author=Tone, Andrea | Title=Devices and Desires | Publisher=New York: Hill and Wang, A Division of Farrar, Strauss and Giroux | Year=2001 | ID=ISBN 080903817X}}