One Male contraceptive pill Without hormones, it first entered clinical testing. The new medicine, called YCT-529 it was developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota, in partnership with Columbia University and Yourchoice Therapeutics.
In article published in March in Nature Communicationsrenowned scientific journal, the researchers found that in male mice, the drug caused infertility and was 99% effective in preventing pregnancy within four weeks of use.
In addition, in male non -human primates, the drug reduced sperm count two weeks after starting treatment. Both mice and nonhuman primates have fully recovered fertility after interrupting the use of the pill. No side effects have been detected in both groups.
“A safe and effective male pill will provide more birth control options for couples,” says Gunda Georg, a corresponding author of the study and professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota, in a statement. “[A pílula] It will allow a more equitable division of responsibility for family planning and will provide reproductive autonomy to men, ”he adds.
How does the pill work?
The YCT-529 has been investigated by researchers from Georg’s team for years due to its impact on a protein called Retinoic Acid Receiver (RAR) Alpha. It interacts with retinoic acid to influence cell growth, sperm formation and embryonic development.
The drug blocks the action of rar-alpha, then preventing its action without causing possible side effects. This is the differential compared to other male contraceptives already tested: because it is not hormonal, it may not cause effects such as weight gain, depression or increased “bad” cholesterol levels – as with hormonal female contraceptives.
Next Steps
The research has established that the YCT-529 is suitable to be tested on humans. A phase 1 clinical study – in which researchers evaluate the safety of a new treatment in a small group of healthy volunteers – was completed in 2024 by Yourchoice Therapeutics. Now the drug is undergoing security and effectiveness in a phase 2 clinical trial in New Zealand.
“This study has launched the foundations for YCT-529 clinical trials, which are efficiently progressing,” said Nadja Mannowetz, the main author, scientific director and co-founder of the therapeutics, in a statement. “With the unwanted pregnancy rate of almost 50% in the US and worldwide, we need more contraceptive options, especially for men.”
In addition to YCT-529, another compound, called CDD-2807, is being developed as a non-hormonal male contraceptive. A 2024 study, led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, tested the drug in mice and found that the compound prevents rats from generating when injected. However, the substance is not yet in the phase of clinical trials.
This content was originally published in a men’s contraceptive pill goes on clinical tests for the first time on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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