Drug Reduces Sex Drive (Press, 5 August 1971)

A new drug aimed at reducing excessive male sex drive is generating significant interest in West Germany's police and legal sectors as a potential treatment for sexual offenders. Tested on 547 men across West Germany and Switzerland, the drug, an anti-androgen produced by the company Schering A. G. based in Berlin, has been submitted for certification by the West German Health Agency. Although approval is not anticipated until late 1971, some courts in West Germany are already offering the drug to sex offenders as an alternative to imprisonment. The drug, which is administered in tablet form, works by countering the effects of the androgen hormone, responsible for sexual desire, sperm production, and potency in men. Schering A. G. has stated that while the drug inhibits sperm cell production, it does not chemically castrate patients and allows full restoration of sexual function within six months of ceasing treatment. The implications of the drug also extend to females as it may help manage excessive male hormone production, leading to abnormal hair growth and masculine traits. Despite the promising research, Schering A. G. anticipates a limited market for the drug due to high research and production costs. The potential for the drug's application was first noted in female rats, where the substance caused a surprising outcome in offspring. Following eight years of research and clinical testing, the company is keen on its introduction to the legal system for managing sexual offenders. Legal authorities in West Germany foresee a scenario where individuals guilty of sexual offences might avoid incarceration in favour of undergoing therapy with this drug, combined with psychiatric treatment to address the sources of their sexual behaviour. The drug's compliance may be ensured through injection form. Schering A. G. estimates that approximately 40 per cent of the offenders likely to be treated may be child molesters, with additional categories including exhibitionists, rapists, arsonists classified as sexual deviants, and individuals with non-criminal tendencies, such as transvestites. The unique approach of using a pharmacological solution to address sexual aggression is raising both hope and caution in legal contexts across West Germany.

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