New Hormone-Free, Male Contraceptive , Enters First Human Trial.<br />'Newsweek' reports that a brand-new male <br />contraceptive has entered its first stage of trials. .<br />The new treatment, unlike many other <br />contraceptives, does not involve hormones.<br />The trial of the pill, currently named YCT-529, <br />is the first ever for a hormone-free male <br />birth control pill to be tested on humans. .<br />A group of 16 British men are taking <br />part in the trial of the pill, which is <br />manufactured by YourChoice Therapeutics.<br />It was developed by Quotient Sciences, <br />a drug development company.<br />The pill works by restricting vitamin A <br />from accessing the sperm production process, <br />which prevents sperm from being manufactured.<br />Researchers have understood <br />for decades that vitamin A <br />is essential for male fertility. , Gunda Georg, Regents professor at the University of <br />Minnesota's College of Pharmacy, via 'Newsweek'.<br />YCT-529 is a retinoic acid <br />receptor-alpha [RAR-a] inhibitor <br />that prevents the production of sperm <br />cells in the testes as well as their release <br />by blocking RAR-alpha (one of three <br />nuclear receptors that bind retinoic <br />acid, a form of vitamin A), Gunda Georg, Regents professor at the University of <br />Minnesota's College of Pharmacy, via 'Newsweek'.<br />In mice mating studies, YCT-529 <br />was 99% effective and reversible. <br />Studies in monkeys also showed <br />a reversible reduction of sperm <br />counts. Neither the mice nor the <br />monkeys showed any side effects, Gunda Georg, Regents professor at the University of <br />Minnesota's College of Pharmacy, via 'Newsweek'.<br />'Newsweek' reports that the mice <br />were found to regain their fertility <br />again within four to six weeks
