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Dr Christophe de Jaeger (Longevity and geriatrics)
A team of researchers has just announced that they have developed a male contraceptive pill. Tested without side effects in mice, scientists hope to be able to launch a study in humans at the end of the year. For Dr. Christophe de Jaeger, physiologist and author of the book “Aging well without medication” published by Cherche-Midi, “this would be a considerable step forward!”.
Are we moving towards sharing the mental burden around contraception among heterosexual couples? In any case, this is what an American team wants, which has just developed the first pill for men. It is non-hormonal, in order to limit the side effects.
Target a growth protein
The functioning of the female pill relies on hormones that disrupt the menstrual cycle. Much research has attempted to develop a male equivalent using the same method and acting on a male hormone, testosterone. But these trials were plagued with undesirable side effects such as weight gain, bouts of depression and increased cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of heart disease.
To develop a non-hormonal pill, Md Abdullah Al Noman, who works in the laboratory of Professor Gunda Georg, chose to target a protein, which is in fact a receptor: the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR-alpha ). In the human body, vitamin A is transformed into many elements including retinoic acid. Retinoic acid plays an important role in cell growth, sperm formation and embryo development. By blocking it with a compound called YCT529, the receptor no longer fulfilled its role and the mice that took it became temporarily sterile.
Reversible effects without side effects in mice
The first tests in mice, which consisted in giving him the molecule orally, lasted four weeks. During this time, YCT529 drastically reduced murine sperm production and was 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, with no side effects observed.
And with a reversible effect since six weeks after stopping the ingestion of YCT529, the mice were able to procreate again. According to Professor Gunda Georg, who participated in the work, “there is no guarantee of success… but I would be really surprised if I didn’t see an effect on humans as well” she believes.
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Considerable progress for contraception in the couple
The detailed results of this study will be presented at the Spring Conference of the American Chemical Society. The team, funded by the US Institutes of Health (NIH) and the non-profit Male Contraceptive Initiative, is working with YourChoice Therapeutics to begin clinical trials in the second half of 2022, the professor said. Gunda Georg.
For the physiologist Christophe de Jaeger, “the mental burden of contraception has generally been borne by women for decades. With its share of side effects and an increased risk – by the female contraceptive pill – of having a cardiovascular complication. It’s not neutral. If this molecule succeeds and works without side effects, it will be an opportunity for couples to share the cost of contraception or even have it worn only by the man, if it is less risky for him..