World-leading male contraceptive pill trial underway in NZ

A male contraceptive pill may be one step closer with leading research company New Zealand Clinical Research about to embark on a study to determine the impacts of a potential new medicine.

The non-hormonal, oral contraceptive at the heart of the study has already shown positive results in a phase 1 single-dose study, said principal investigator Dr. Rohit Katial. “The medication has already demonstrated safety and tolerability as a single-dose application, so we are now evaluating how well men tolerate multiple doses of the contraceptive, along with its effects on sperm count over a longer study period,” said Dr
Katial.

Healthy men aged 28-70, weighing more than 55kg, who are currently awaiting a vascectomy, or who have decided not to father children in the future are ideal candidates for the study.

The paid study will be held at NZCR’s state-of-the-art research facility in Auckland, with a screening, dosing and follow up period taking place over a number of weeks. The study will be undertaken in two phases, with each phase requiring two multi-day overnight stays, and a series of follow up visits and phone calls to evaluate the effects of the drug under investigation.

Currently in New Zealand, male birth control is limited to abstinence, condoms or vasectomy as a permanent, surgical solution. If study findings are positive, the new drug could be the first reversible, non-invasive contraceptive designed solely for male birth control in the world, said Dr Katial.