This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
On November 21, 2019, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) announced the completion of a clinical trial on an injectable male contraceptive, marking a significant milestone in the development of a male birth control method.
According to Dr. R.S. Sharma, a senior scientist with ICMR, the product is ready for regulatory approval, with the trials achieving a 97.3% success rate and no reported side effects. The trials involved 303 candidates and were part of extended Phase 3 clinical trials.
The contraceptive, which involves injecting a polymer (Styrene maleic anhydride) into the vas deferens, effectively blocks sperm from leaving the testicles. This method is designed to supplant a traditional vasectomy and lasts approximately 13 years.
Researchers in the US have also developed a similar contraceptive, Vasalgel, while a male birth control pill is also in development, although it may take about 10 years before it reaches the market.
Dr. Sharma attributed the development of the polymer to Professor S.K. Guha from the Indian Institute of Technology, who first developed it in the 1970s. ICMR has been researching the polymer since 1984, and the final product is now ready after exhaustive trials.
However, the product still requires regulatory approval from the Drugs Controller General of India, V.G. Somani, who stated that it will take about six to seven months before the product can be manufactured.
