An ‘On-demand’ male contraceptive has been successfully tested on mice: it can be used when needed and its effect wears off within hours. The result, published in the journal Nature Communications and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), could be a step forward on the long road to male contraception. However before having confirmation of its efficacy it will be necessary to wait for the results of a possible trial on humans.
The search for a male contraceptive has been ongoing for decades, but so far it has been very difficult to obtain substances that are effective, easy to take and without side effects. It has been necessary to approach the issue from a new point of view, as has been the case of the research group led by Jochen Buck and Lonny Levin of the Weill Cornell Medicine biomedical research unit at Cornell University. The researchers obtained a drug that was shown to reduce male fertility quickly and temporarily in mice.
The drug candidate tested on mice does not contain hormones, it can be taken before having intercourse and itloses its effect the following day. Known as TDI-11861, the compound is an inhibitor of the adenylate cyclase enzyme, essential for activating the ability of sperm to mature and move. By blocking this enzyme, the drug makes sperm unable to reach the oocyte in order to fertilize it. Experiments in mice confirmed this mechanism, as no pregnancies occurred and no side effects were observed
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