Breakthrough in contraception: First birth control pill for men successfully tested on mice – Panorama – Society

Scientists from the USA have made a possible breakthrough in the development of a male birth control pill. Studies in mice have shown YCT529 to be 99 percent effective, University of Minnesota graduate student Abdullah Al Noman told AFP on Wednesday. Side effects were not found in the studies.

The research team led by Noman and Professor Gunda Georg wanted to present the results of their study at the spring conference of the American Chemical Society. Human clinical trials are expected to begin in the third or fourth quarter of this year.

Georg said she was optimistic that market approval could come as soon as five years. “There’s no guarantee it will work,” she admitted. “But I would be really surprised if we don’t see efficacy in humans.”

The test mice were orally administered the agent YCT529 for four weeks. According to the scientists, the sperm count of the male mice fell drastically during this time; 99 percent of pregnancies were prevented. The mice were fertile again four to six weeks after stopping the drug.

While the female pill is based on hormones, YCT529 docks onto a protein called retinoic acid receptor alpha, which plays an important role in sperm production.

Where research failed in the past

Previous research on male birth control pills had focused on the male sex hormone testosterone. However, there were side effects such as weight gain, depression and increased cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of heart disease. The female birth control pill, which has been available since the 1960s, can also cause side effects, including blood clots.

“Several studies have shown that men are interested in sharing the responsibility for contraception with their partners,” Noman said. So far, only two methods of contraception have been considered for men: condoms or sterilization. However, the latter is expensive and not always successful. (AFP)

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