Men’s Birth Control to Start Human Trials

A diet deficient in vitamin A has been linked to sterility, so the team searched for an experimental compound that blocks a protein that binds retinoic acid (vitamin A) in our cells. In trials, the pill kept lab mice sterile for 4-6 weeks with essentially no side effects. Since the pill is non-hormonal, it doesn’t come with unwanted side effects such as higher cholesterol or lower sex drive, making it more appealing than other options. 

The protein-blocking compound has been licensed to YourChoice Therapeutics for further development, and should enter clinical trials later this year.