His work on metabolism in pharmacology and the use of steroid hormones contributed to the development of the combined oral contraceptive pill.
"[2] While working at the Worcester Foundation, Dorfman was a research consultant to the Syntex Corporation, starting in 1950.
[1] Dorfman's research also focused on treatments for cancer and rheumatoid arthritis and originated the reproductive biology concept of anti-estrogens and anti-androgens.
In addition to his numerous papers, Dorfman was the author or editor of 14 books and founded the journal Steroids.
[3] Dorfman died of complications of Parkinson's disease at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, California, at the age of 74.