A new documentary, The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control, centers on bringing Addyi (flibanserin) to market as a treatment for low female libido and frames the broader fight against medical sexism in women’s health.

The film argues that medical sexism and insufficient training in women’s sexual health contribute to under-treatment of female sexual dysfunction, urging more funding, research, and cultural change.

Through scientific debate, personal narratives, and advocacy tactics, the documentary seeks to educate and mobilize audiences to advance women’s sexual health as a legitimate medical priority.

Sprout Pharmaceuticals led advocacy campaigns like Even the Score and conducted extensive safety studies, including driving-impairment research, to address concerns and build support.

Cindy Eckert’s ongoing advocacy, campaigns such as Even the Score, physician partnerships, and testimonies from women who used Addyi culminated in FDA approval in 2015 and later corporate developments.

The film details efforts such as the Even the Score campaign, driving studies showing no driving impairment, and testimonies from supporters, physicians, and Addyi users.

Eckert named the drug Addyi and led the largest clinical trial in women’s health history, enrolling more than 13,000 participants and showing a positive impact on desire.

Even with trial success, regulatory and safety concerns persisted, including cautious marketing and ongoing debates about side effects, as the FDA process extended over years.

Initial Boehringer Ingelheim trials showed promise, but the FDA rejected Addyi in 2013 over efficacy and safety concerns; Eckert, as a co-creator, then acquired the rights and championed the drug.

Valeant’s acquisition and price increases after Addyi’s approval highlighted access barriers, prompting Sprout Pharmaceuticals to sue (case later dropped) and Eckert to repurchase Addyi for $0.

The film centers on Cindy Eckert, founder of Sprout Pharmaceuticals, who led the Addyi effort after acquiring rights in 2010 and pursuing FDA approval through vigorous advocacy and research.

Treena Orchard emphasizes that the piece supports the documentary’s message: ongoing need to treat women’s sexual health with the same rigor and attention as men’s.