Community SpotlightFrom Patient to Pioneer: How Jennifer Johnston Is Redefining Contraception
A Personal Spark
For Dr. Jennifer Johnston, a family physician and mother of four, the path to entrepreneurship began with her own health. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she realized her long-term use of hormonal contraception may have increased her risk. While hormonal birth control works safely and effectively for millions, it was no longer the right choice for her. Alternatives such as the copper IUD or condoms often came with trade-offs in side effects or reliability. “I realized I needed something better not just for myself, but for my patients and my girls,” she says. That moment of personal necessity turned into a much larger vision and the beginnings of Elle, MD Biotechnologies.
Building Something Better
Elle, MD was born from Johnston’s conviction that women deserve more and better choices. The company’s focus is singular: create a safe, effective, non-hormonal contraceptive option designed with the realities of women’s lives in mind.
Her guiding principle is deeply personal. “My north star is bringing something to market that I’d actually want my own daughters using,” Johnston explains. “That means it has to be highly effective, have minimal side effects, and be easy to use. To date, there’s nothing on the market that fits these criteria. We plan to change that.”
This patient-first approach sets Elle, MD apart. It is not about chasing the fastest or flashiest innovation. It is about designing something women can trust and use with confidence.
A Strategic Path
Beyond its mission, Elle, MD also has a unique regulatory advantage. In Canada, the product is classified as a medical device, while in the United States it is considered a drug. This distinction allows the company to move faster in Canada, reaching the market sooner and saving millions in development costs compared to a U.S.-first pathway.
It is a strategy that reflects Johnston’s ability to think both as a physician and as an entrepreneur. “It means we can get solutions into women’s hands sooner,” she says. “And that is what really matters.”
Recent Milestones
The last year has been marked by significant progress. Elle, MD has secured $765,000 toward its $1 million fundraising goal, launched a promising sheep study, and built a team with specialized expertise in regulatory strategy, manufacturing, financial planning, and clinical research. These steps have positioned the company to begin its first-in-human trial in 2026, a milestone Johnston has been working toward since day one.
Though the official results of the sheep study are still pending, early signs are promising. “I’m waiting with bated breath to get the official results by the end of this month,” Johnston says. “It is an incredible feeling to see years of vision and planning begin to turn into data.”
Overcoming Challenges
Progress has not come without obstacles. Conducting sheep studies in North America is surprisingly complicated. Sheep are short-day breeders, meaning the ideal window for contraception research is November to January. Ethics approval, scheduling, and logistical hurdles make that narrow window even more challenging.
Elle, MD found a way forward by partnering with a research group in Mexico, where sheep closer to the equator do not face the same breeding limitations. Johnston is quick to credit her Research Lead, Liliana Portales, for making the collaboration possible. “Liliana is bilingual and was able to communicate seamlessly with our new partners. Without her, this transition would have been much more difficult.”
What’s Next
Looking ahead, Elle, MD has a clear roadmap. The immediate focus is on completing ISO-compliant biocompatibility studies, in vitro release testing, and mechanical durability testing. These are critical steps that will support a submission to Health Canada for the company’s first-in-human trial.
Beyond that, the vision expands globally. Johnston sees opportunities to introduce Elle, MD into markets across the United States, Europe, and beyond, where adding more contraceptive options can make a meaningful difference. “We want to be part of a future where women everywhere have access to safe, reliable, non-hormonal choices alongside the methods that already exist,” she says.
Watching the Industry
Johnston is paying close attention to the broader shifts happening in Femtech and contraceptive innovation. Investment in the space is rising, and so is global awareness of contraceptive equity. She sees particular promise in trends toward user-controlled, low-maintenance contraception, especially non-hormonal methods.
“Innovations in biodegradable materials, long-acting devices, and multi-purpose products like combining contraception with STI prevention could reshape the field in the next decade,” she notes. “The companies that succeed will be the ones that balance scientific rigor with user-centered design.”
Lessons Learned
Reflecting on her own path, Johnston says she would have started building her funding network earlier if she could go back. “Relationships take time to develop, and early conversations can pay off years later,” she explains.
But she also emphasizes how rewarding the journey has been. “Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster, but what people often miss is just how much fun it can be,” she says. “I love getting to use every part of my brain, writing grants, pitching to investors, collaborating with brilliant minds, solving problems, all in the name of my daughters and daughters everywhere. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn, grow, and enjoy what they do every day.”
Advice for Founders
When asked what advice she would share with other women entrepreneurs, Johnston does not hesitate. “Don’t let the stats or the skeptics slow you down, turn them into fuel,” she says. “When people think you are a little crazy, it probably means you are onto something. In the early days, I felt hesitant to share what I was building and often got blank stares in return. But as we have grown, step by step, the responses have shifted. What once sparked doubt now brings curiosity, support, and even excitement. Keep going, it gets better and better.”
The best advice she has ever received? “Don’t be afraid to say no. Boundaries create focus, and focus fuels impact. By choosing what truly matters, you create space for the work that inspires you, and that is when the magic happens.”
For Johnston, that focus is clear: building a future where safe, reliable, non-hormonal contraception is no longer out of reach, but a standard option for women everywhere.