Problems of manufacture and distribution The manufacture of steroidal contraceptives: technical versus political aspects

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Abstract
Since it is exceedingly unlikely that any chemically new steroids will be introduced as contraceptives during the next decade, principal attention is paid to the manufacture of currently employed contraceptive steroids, notably those of the 19-nor class. The supply situation has changed dramatically during the past few years in that Mexican diosgenin is becoming progressively less important as a result of processes involving total synthesis or microbiological transformation of alternative raw materials. Political aspects associated with the nationalization of the Mexican diosgenin supply are discussed and it is predicted that in the near future Mexico - the country which at one time satisfied over half of the world’s steroid demands - will play a greatly reduced role as a steroid producer. The rise and decline of the steroid industry in Mexico is a sad but instructive example of how lack of resolution in the conflicting priorities (economic versus political) of multinational pharmaceutical companies and a developing country can lead to the possible dismantlement of a flourishing high technology. There are important differences between petroleum and steroids, which make the O. P. E. C. strategy non-viable in the steroid field.

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