New Delhi: For decades, the responsibility of contraception has been on the shoulders of women, while men have had only condoms or sterilization in the name of options. Now a big step seems to be taken towards changing this imbalance. Hormone-free male contraceptive pill YCT-529 has successfully completed its first human safety trials.
This achievement is considered a turning point in global efforts to develop safe, easy and reversible birth control options for men. Initial results indicate that in future men can also shoulder the responsibility of contraception equally.
Who developed YCT-529?
YCT-529 is being developed by San Francisco-based biotech company YourChoice Therapeutics. This company works exclusively on non-hormonal contraceptive solutions. The scientific research behind this drug began under the leadership of Professor Gunda George at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota, with the participation of researchers from Columbia University.
YourChoice Therapeutics was founded with the aim of translating this academic research into a practical male contraceptive option. The company’s goal is to provide men with an oral, reversible, and hormone-free option that is as convenient as women’s birth control pills.
What exactly is YCT-529?
YCT-529 is an oral, non-hormonal male contraceptive pill, designed to be taken daily.
Many earlier experimental male contraceptives were based on suppressing testosterone, which led to side effects such as mood changes, weight gain, and decreased libido.
In contrast, YCT-529 works without altering male hormone levels. It targets a biological pathway in the body that is directly linked to sperm production and is primarily restricted to the testicles.
How does this pill work?
Retinoic acid is essential for sperm production, which is a metabolite of vitamin A. It binds to the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR-α) present in the testicles and activates the genes that are necessary for sperm formation.
YCT-529 selectively blocks this receptor. This blocks retinoic acid signaling and stops sperm production in its early stages, while testosterone levels remain normal.
According to research published in Communications Medicine, this procedure does not have any negative impact on sexual desire and sexual activity.
Animal studies also found that fertility returned after stopping the drug, indicating that its effects are reversible.
What was revealed in human safety testing?
The recently completed study was a Phase-1A clinical trial, aimed at assessing the safety and tolerability of the drug, not contraceptive effectiveness.
In this trial, 16 healthy male volunteers were given different doses of YCT-529 or placebo. According to the researchers, no serious side effects were observed in any of the participants.
No clinically significant changes in testosterone levels, other reproductive hormones, mood or sexual desire were recorded.
However, scientists have clarified that this phase does not prove whether the pill will be able to effectively prevent pregnancy or not. This will require long and detailed tests, in which the continuing decline in sperm count will be measured.
the way forward
The early success of YCT-529 has raised hopes that safe and convenient contraceptive options may also be available to men in the future. If further trials are successful, this discovery could make contraception responsibility more balanced.
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