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- Weill Cornell scientists develop on-demand male contraceptive pill.
- The pill temporarily blocks sperm enzymes ans is effective for 6-8 hours.
- The breakthrough aims for shared birth control responsibility, with human trials scheduled next.
The terms birth control, family planning, and contraceptives have always been synonymous with women from ages. They have relied heavily on hormonal contraceptives, which have their own side effects. Meanwhile, for men, contraceptive options are limited to only condoms and vasectomies. However, a remarkable scientific discovery could finally change the entire game.
Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine in the United States are developing a unique, on-demand contraceptive pill for men. This game-changing discovery in the field of science can prove to be a boon, allowing both genders to share the responsibilities of birth control.
How Does the Pill Work?
Professor Dr Jochen Buck and Lonnie Levine, the pharmacologists leading the project, explain that the pill works by targeting an enzyme inside sperm called soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC). By temporarily blocking this enzyme, the pill stops the sperm from travelling to the female reproductive tract, thereby stopping egg fertilisation and preventing pregnancies.
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"We found that if you give a man an inhibitor of the enzyme as a pill, it will get into the man’s sperm which are awaiting ejaculation, and because we found inhibitors that have a unique ability to stay stuck to the enzyme for a very long time, the inhibitor keeps the enzyme off even after the sperm are ejaculated into the woman," Dr Jochen Buck said, as quoted by Newsweek.
Effect Lasts For 6 To 8 Hours
What makes this medication exceptional and groundbreaking is its short-term effect. "The level of the drug in the body peaks shortly after taking the pill and then those levels decrease over time," Buck said. The pill only works for 6 to 8 hours after administration. After this window, male fertility will return to normalcy without any visible damage, as explained by Lonnie Levine, the pharmacologist.
Will There Be Any Side Effects?
The two pharmacologists shared that the pill caused no side effects when tested on animals. Giving details of the test, they said, "We give our inhibitor to animals at very high doses for extended periods of time, suggesting there should not be side effects in men who take the eventual drug." However, human testing is yet to be done.
Addressing some concerns, Steven W. L'Hernault, a professor of biology at Emory University, told Newsweek that sAC protein is found and plays a role in tissues other than the testis, including the eye. Further, he added that a male contraceptive must be extremely safe, with certainty of zero side effects.
Received An $8.2 Million Grant For Further Research
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has awarded the two pharmacologists a grant of $8.2 million. The four-year grant will help Professor Dr Jochen Buck and Lonnie Levine advance their research and trial and ensure its safety for human consumption. If everything goes well, the day is not far away when men will contribute equally to birth control and family planning.