“The world is ready”: contraceptive pill for men tested with 99% effectiveness

Currently, men can only use condoms or have a vasectomy, while for women there is a wide range of contraceptives, including the pill, a contraceptive injection and the use of diaphragms or female condoms, among other options.

However, a new pill promises to offer contraceptive protection. This time, the person responsible for taking Five scary old birth control methods used before the pill came along

YCT-529, as this pill is called, is a medication called a retinoic acid receptor alpha inhibitor, which prevents sperm production by blocking access to the vitamin. A. Previous studies dating back more than 90 years have shown that depriving mice, rats and monkeys of vitamin A can cause infertility.

Experts from the biopharmaceutical company YourChoice Therapeutics They said preclinical studies showed YCT-529 to be “99% effective and 100% reversible,” with no side effects.

The company said previous versions of the men’s pill had attempted to suppress the male sex hormone testosterone to prevent sperm production. but it does not completely stop sperm production and has been associated with some complications.

Today, 16 men are trying the hormone-free pill in the UK. The phase 1 trial is being conducted by Quotient Sciences, a drug development company based in the English city of Nottingham. “The last innovation in contraception was the birth control pill for women, and that was over 60 years ago,” he said. Gunda Georg, academic of University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, which developed the pill.

“The world is ready for a male contraceptive agent, and offering one that does not contain hormones is simply the right thing to do, given what we know about the side effects women have suffered for decades from the pill “, said Georg.

“We consciously chose to inhibit the vitamin A signaling pathway in the testis because “Nearly 100 years of research has validated this pathway and shows that infertility can be easily reversed.” he added.

The research group’s preclinical data are strong, they said, showing that YCT-529 was 99% effective in preventing pregnancies in mice and lowering sperm counts in monkeys after two weeks of treatment. Additionally, YCT-529 also demonstrated a strong safety profile and complete reversibility in mice and monkeys upon completion of treatment.

Akash Bakshi, co-founder and CEO of YourChoice Therapeutics, noted that YCT-529 blocks a protein (not hormones) to prevent sperm production. “We think this will be more appealing to men, most of whom view pregnancy prevention as a shared responsibility. even despite current limited contraceptive options, which are permanent or moderately effective,” he said.

“The scarcity of options reinforces the centuries-old view that preventing pregnancy is “a woman’s responsibility.” It’s not that, and we are committed to developing the first hormone-free birth control pill for men that is effective, convenient and temporary,” added Bakshi.

It is hoped that if the trials are successful, the daily pill could pave the way for equitable sharing of the responsibility for contraception between the sexes. Previous versions of male contraceptives have attempted to suppress testosterone in an attempt to stop sperm production, but this has not been completely effective and has been associated with complications.

According to YourChoice Therapeutics, its men’s pill has a greater contraceptive effect than condoms.. It is worth mentioning that condoms are 98% effective when used correctly. This medicine is one of many medicines are being tested with the aim of balancing responsibilities and bringing alternative contraception one step closer s, including a male contraceptive gel and an monthly gelatin pill .

A study conducted in March found that women could face a increased risk of breast cancer linked to taking any type of hormonal contraceptive.

Meanwhile, women who take it common painkillers, including ibuprofen, with the pill could increase your risk of blood clots, according to various research.