New Hormone-Free Male Contraceptive Enters First Human Trial

New Hormone-Free, Male Contraceptive , Enters First Human Trial.
'Newsweek' reports that a brand-new male
contraceptive has entered its first stage of trials. .
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. .
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