First-In-Human Trial For Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill Kicks Off

First-In-Human Trial For Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill Kicks Off

The male birth control pill will be available soon, according to the latest reports. Check out more details about this below.

Human trial for hormone-free male birth control pill is here

It has been revealed that after a lot of successful preclinical studies in mice, researchers have this week begun the first human trials of a hormone-free male birth control pill.

IFL Science notes that “YCT-529, the drug being tested, is the first of its kind to reach Phase I clinical trials. Whilst scientists have been working away for decades in an attempt to create contraceptive options for sexually active men beyond condoms and vasectomies, those that have reached later clinical trial stages have been hormonal.”

According to official reports, the disruption of hormones can come with all sorts of unpleasant side effects, such as mood changes and acne, making YCT-529 a potentially far more appealing option.

“The world is ready for a male contraceptive agent and delivering one that’s hormone-free is simply the right thing to do given what we know about the side effects women have endured for decades from The Pill,” said Gunda Georg, who led the development of the pill alongside YourChoice Therapeutics, in a statement.

The new pill works by inhibiting the activity of a protein known as retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RAR-alpha).

This protein belongs to a family of nuclear receptors that bind to retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A that plays a crucial role in sperm formation.

By blocking this pathway, the pill prevents sperm production, leading to a significant drop in sperm count.

Preclinical studies conducted in mice have shown that this approach is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, and it is also safe to use. Additionally, the effect of the pill on fertility is reversible.

The researchers are hoping to achieve the same level of success in human studies as they did in previous experiments.

The Phase I trial is designed to investigate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the pill in two cohorts of eight male volunteers.

The trial is expected to conclude around mid-2024. However, even if everything goes according to plan, it’s unlikely that you will be able to get YCT-529 from your doctor anytime soon. Further trials and clinical approval can take years.

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