A male oral contraceptive has entered human efficacy trials after showing safety in early-stage studies, raising hopes for a more balanced approach to family planning worldwide.
A team from the University of Minnesota, in partnership with Columbia University and biotech company YourChoice Therapeutics, has created YCT-529—a hormone-free male birth control pill. Unlike traditional contraceptives that rely on hormonal changes, YCT-529 works by halting sperm production.
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As per the study published in Nature Communications, the drug was 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancies in just four weeks in male mice. In male non-human primates, it significantly reduced sperm counts within two weeks of administration. It also added that fertility was regained within 6 weeks in mice and 10 to 15 weeks in non-human primates. Additionally, no side effects were observed in either group.
The drug has entered human clinical trials and the first phase was completed successfully. The drug is now in a second clinical trial, focusing on further evaluating its safety and effectiveness in humans.
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“A safe and effective male pill will provide more options to couples for birth control,” said Gunda Georg, the corresponding author of the study and a professor in the College of Pharmacy where the drug molecule was developed.
Currently two contraceptives are available for men to prevent pregnancy in their partners — condoms and vasectomies.
