Representing a significant advancement in the field of contraception, the United Kingdom has initiated trials for a hormone-free contraceptive pill designed for men. This groundbreaking trial positions the study group in the country as the global pioneer in testing this innovative form of medication.
YCT-529, the pill in question, operates as a retinoic acid receptor-alpha inhibitor. This drug functions by impeding sperm production through the obstruction of vitamin A access. The drug was developed by a team of researchers at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
YourChoice Therapeutics, a bio-pharmaceutical startup established in 2018, initiated the trial for this drug. The company's foundation is rooted in research conducted at the University by College of Pharmacy regents professor Gunda Georg.
Should the trials prove successful, this innovation could foster a more equitable and shared approach to family planning, encouraging a collaborative effort between both sexes in managing reproductive health.
Scientific advancements
Having reliable birth control is important in today's society. Historically, the responsibility and challenges of unintended pregnancies have mostly fallen on women. However, recent changes in abortion laws have sparked interest in finding more options for men beyond just surgeries or condoms.
Efforts to create reversible birth control for men have been going on for almost 100 years. Initially, the focus was changing how the body's hormones work to prevent pregnancy. However, these hormonal methods had issues like side effects, complicated dosing schedules, and public stigma, according to a study.
The current drug candidates in clinical development rely on hormonal agents that suppress testosterone to inhibit sperm production. Despite this approach, researchers point out that testosterone doesn't entirely halt sperm production, and there are variations based on ethnicity. Furthermore, the use of testosterone is associated with significant side effects, including an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as issues such as weight gain, acne, and mood changes, including heightened aggression and reduced libido, according to a statement by the University.
Another approach is non-hormonal methods that target different stages of sperm development. This includes blocking certain chemicals, interactions between specific cells, or channels in sperm.
Scientists have also identified genes linked to male infertility, thanks to advancements in gene-editing technologies like CRISPR and PROTACs. This has led to more precise drug development.
Highly effective
The drug in question, YCT529, is an α-selective retinoic acid antagonist presented at the American Chemical Society national meeting in 2022. Giving mice orally for 4 weeks reduced sperm counts and prevented 99 percent of pregnancy.
"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 reversed easily," said Georg in a statement.
No systemic side effects were seen with less specific retinoic acid receptor antagonists. According to the researchers, mice could reproduce for 4–6 weeks after stopping the medication. Pre-clinical studies have found YCT-529 is "99 percent effective and 100 percent reversible, with no side effects", according to experts at its manufacturer, YourChoice Therapeutics, based in San Francisco.
Currently, 16 men in the UK are undergoing testing for the hormone-free pill. Quotient Sciences, a pharmaceutical development company in Nottingham, England, is carrying out this phase 1 trial. "The clinical trial will test the safety, tolerability, and functioning of oral doses of the drug in 16 human participants. Until now, the drug has only been studied in animals," said a statement by the University.
Recently, Georg obtained a US patent for the compound, adding to the University of Minnesota's yearly average of around 200 patents granted to its inventors from various countries.
Raising hopes for millions of couples in the reproductive age bracket globally, YourChoice Therapeutics claims that the daily male pill delivers a more effective contraceptive outcome compared to the use of condoms.
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article