Study Rounds
Male birth control pill blocks sperm production
An experimental hormone-free birth control pill for men appears to be safe based on early human trials and successfully prevented sperm production in mammal studies, according to the company developing it.
In an early-stage study, the contraceptive pill was well-tolerated at a variety of doses, with no safety concerns and no serious adverse events, YourChoice Therapeutics CEO Akash Bakshi said.
A 28-day trial in 50 men aged 28-70 is now underway, and a 90-day mid-stage study is expected to start in the second quarter of this year, Bakshi said.
The drug, YCT-529, works by interfering with vitamin A signaling necessary for sperm production. Fertility returns when treatment is discontinued.
In mice and in primates, the pill caused infertility within two weeks, and the animals regained fertility after stopping treatment, without adverse effects, researchers reported in Communications Medicine.
A reversible male contraceptive that is administered orally “would be the best case scenario for ease of use and compliance,” the researchers wrote.
Credit:: Reuters Health Rounds
