Positive primate results for a new reversible, non-hormonal, long acting, male contraceptive.

Courtesy: Pixabay

California National Primate Research Center reported positive results for a new injectable contraceptive Vasalgel in Rhesus monkeys for more than a year. The study was published on February 6, 2017 in Journal of Basic and Clinical Andrology.

California National Primate Research Center reported positive results for a new injectable contraceptive Vasalgel in Rhesus monkeys for more than a year. The study was published on February 6, 2017 in Journal of Basic and Clinical Andrology.

Male contraceptive options are the same since a century and limited to condoms, withdrawal or permanent sterilization. No reversible long acting option is currently available for men.

A recent article by Valerie Tarico, a psychologist revealed that most men are willing to try new contraceptive options and are always looking for better options to what currently is in the markets.

Vasalgel™, a high molecular weight polymer consisting of 25% styrene maleic acid (SMA) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide. It works by occluding the vas deferens. After injection, the SMA forms a hydrogel that is tissue adherent, blocking the lumen of the vas and is a barrier to the passage of sperms. Side effects are minor and similar to vasectomy surgery.

Courtesy: Parsemus Foundation 

It can be reversed by injecting sodium bicarbonate solution; the paper is awaiting publication.

The study successfully documented that 16 Rhesus monkeys injected with Vasalgel™ did not father any offspring after 2 year of mating.

Vasalgel was developed by Parsemus Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Berkeley, California. It got the inspiration from a polymer contraceptive called RISUG®, which is in advanced clinical trials in India, but no product has hit the markets yet.

With successful animal studies, the foundation is planning to launch human clinical studies in a year to explore the effectiveness followed by studies on reversing the effects.

This reversible male contraceptive is a much-awaited breakthrough in the world of male contraceptives. It has the potential to change the population dynamic in the coming years.

It was listed at #5 on the 2016 Cracked list of science breakthrough.