New Hormone-Free, Male Contraceptive , Enters First Human Trial.
'Newsweek' reports that a brand-new male contraceptive has entered its first stage of trials.
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The new treatment, unlike many other contraceptives, does not involve hormones.
The trial of the pill, currently named YCT-529, is the first ever for a hormone-free male birth control pill to be tested on humans.
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A group of 16 British men are taking part in the trial of the pill, which is manufactured by YourChoice Therapeutics.
It was developed by Quotient Sciences, a drug development company.
The pill works by restricting vitamin A from accessing the sperm production process, which prevents sperm from being manufactured.
Researchers have understood for decades that vitamin A is essential for male fertility.
, Gunda Georg, Regents professor at the University of Minnesota's College of Pharmacy, via 'Newsweek'.
YCT-529 is a retinoic acid receptor-alpha [RAR-a] inhibitor that prevents the production of sperm cells in the testes as well as their release by blocking RAR-alpha (one of three nuclear receptors that bind retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A), Gunda Georg, Regents professor at the University of Minnesota's College of Pharmacy, via 'Newsweek'.
In mice mating studies, YCT-529 was 99% effective and reversible.
Studies in monkeys also showed a reversible reduction of sperm counts.
Neither the mice nor the monkeys showed any side effects, Gunda Georg, Regents professor at the University of Minnesota's College of Pharmacy, via 'Newsweek'.
'Newsweek' reports that the mice were found to regain their fertility again within four to six weeks
