Daré Bioscience secures $6m funding installment as smart contraceptive device eyes expansion into obesity and diabetes
DARE-LARC1 is a long-acting reversible contraceptive currently in preclinical development.
Daré Bioscience has received a $6 million installment of non-dilutive grant funding to support development of its investigational contraceptive device, DARE-LARC1. The technology is part of the company’s broader DARE-IDDS platform, which Daré now aims to extend beyond reproductive health into therapeutic areas such as obesity, diabetes, and hormone-related conditions.
The new installment brings total grant funding received to date to $37.8 million, part of a multi-year commitment of up to $49 million backing the smart drug delivery system. The funds will support nonclinical work and preparations for submission of an investigational new drug (IND) application to the US Food and Drug Administration.
“This funding milestone will help advance what we believe is one of the most promising smart drug delivery technologies in development today,” said Daré’s president and CEO, Sabrina Martucci Johnson.
“With non-dilutive capital covering early development, we are not only progressing a novel contraceptive, but also laying the foundation for a versatile, programmable drug delivery device platform across high-value therapeutic areas.”
Next-generation drug delivery
Originally developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the DARE-IDDS device is designed to take the hassle out of long-term medication delivery. It can release precise doses over months or even years from a single implant, with no need for daily pills, regular injections, or external power. Users and clinicians can adjust dosing schedules remotely via a smartphone app, and the device’s software can be updated without removing it.
Although the first use is in contraception, Daré says the same technology could be adapted for other conditions that require consistent, long-term treatment — including anti-obesity medication like GLP-1s, diabetes, hormone-related cancers, and neurological diseases like Parkinson’s.
“Beyond reproductive health, this platform has the potential to dramatically improve patient adherence, reduce treatment burden, and lower healthcare system costs in areas that today rely on frequent injections or daily oral dosing,” added Johnson.
Daré remains eligible for up to $11.2 million in additional grant funding, contingent on development milestones, and is actively pursuing strategic partnerships to explore use of the platform beyond contraception.