Advent of New Male Contraceptives: Male Birth Control

Jocelyn Doan

Female contraception has shown extensive progress in the variety of devices used ranging from pills to implants to devices such as Opill- the first FDA-approved oral contraceptive. Yet, male contraceptives lag largely behind, with the only two available being condoms and vasectomies, in which condoms have an 87% effectiveness use and vasectomies are often considered a permanent form of birth control. But now a new contraceptive option has come to light through research conducted by the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, laying the groundwork for the first hormone-free birth control pill. 

Called YCT-529, the new drug is an oral-ministered male contraceptive that uses a sperm-blocking mechanism that is reversible. By blocking a vitamin A metabolite from binding to its receptor located in the tests, the vitamin A signaling pathway that acts as a catalyst to starting sperm production is halted. More specifically, the study showed changes in sperm concentration due to the inhibition of retinoic acid receptor alpha which is the protein that is being blocked from aiding sperm cell production. Results published from the early phase 1 clinical trial were published in Communications Medicine in 2024, with a second clinical trial underway to continue testing the safety and efficacy of the drug. According to Dr. Nadja Mannowetz, who is the first author of the published research, said there were no adverse side effects in the male participants in regards to their hormone levels or sexual functions. The implications of these findings lay the groundwork for a possible future regarding drug distribution with the current safety profile being quite robust. Dr. Mannowetz even states that this new development would provide a new pathway for innovation in the field of male contraceptives, allowing for a novel men-oriented market to appear in the future. 

Other findings of the study:

• In male mice, the drug caused infertility and was 99% effective in preventing pregnancies
• In male non-human primates, there was lowered sperm counts within two weeks of drug use
• Both mice and non-human primates regained complete fertility after stopping drug use, with no side effects detected in either group

This research was made possible through the collaboration of the UOM’s College of Pharmacy with YourChoice Therapeutics, which was launched in 2018 and focuses on developing innovative contraceptive solutions. The co-founder, Akash Bakshi, states that at the time, there was a lot of skepticism regarding male contraception because many believed that the safety bar was so high, but the trials’ success turns this belief on its head. Dr. Mannowetz says that the dosage is still being determined in terms of what amount would be optimal, however a second clinical study has demonstrated that up to 180 milligrams was well-tolerated. Across the dosages however, there was a common finding that the drug itself had quick bioavailability- referring to the efficiency in which a drug can be absorbed and then used by the body. 

The promising results will be further tested in a second phase, as the first one was more concerned with human safety and side effects of the drug. Now, there will be more emphasis placed on assessing the drug’s efficacy in reducing sperm counts as well as following-up on trials to help discern the optimal dose for the drug. 

The new development of this non-hormonal birth control often draws ire from women who often are affected by serious health risks that range from increased clot risks to potential mood disorders due to the lack of research regarding hormonal birth control methods for females. The mechanisms for these contraceptives remain understudied despite the vast history regarding its usage, with the first form of birth control having first been approved almost 70 years ago. But YCT-529 has once again re-sparked the debate calling for more in-depth research into these widely-used contraceptives, with Dr. Mannowetz stating that having a male product will “help women offset the contraceptive burden.”

The new development of such a drug holds a promising future and if successful, will not only just transform the current state of planned parenthood and family planning, but will also reallocate the responsibility of contraception to a more equitable distribution that has been one-sided for centuries too long.

Copy editor: Julia Gardner

Photography source: https://dreminozbek.com/en/methods-of-contraception-for-men/