In early 2019, a team of scientists from the Biomed Institute developed the first male contraceptive pill that underwent human safety testing. The results were published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Now, this same team has created a “sister compound” of dimethanedrone undecanoate, or DMAU. It is called 11-Beta-MNTDC and has also passed the safety and tolerance tests on men who used it daily for a month.
The compound 11-Beta-MNTDC produced hormonal responses consistent with effective contraception, according to the results presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in New Orleans.
“11-Beta-MNTDC is a modified testosterone that has the combined actions of a male hormone (androgen) and a progesterone,” says study leader Christina Wang. Our results suggest that this pill, which combines two hormonal activities in one, will decrease sperm production while maintaining libido. “
The study was conducted in 40 healthy men. Ten study participants received a placebo capsule or a dummy drug. The other 30 received 11-beta-MNTDC in one of two doses; 14 men received 200 milligrams and 16 received 400 mg. The subjects took the drug or the placebo eleven a day with food for 28 days.
Among those who received 11-beta-MNTDC, the average level of circulating testosterone was reduced as many cases of androgen deficiency, but the participants did not experience any serious side effects: fatigue, acne or headache in four to six months.
Five volunteers reported a slight decrease in sexual desire, and two described mild erectile dysfunction, but sexual activity did not decrease. In addition, no participant stopped taking the medication due to side effects, and all passed the safety tests.
Because the drug would take at least 60 to 90 days to affect sperm production, 28 days of treatment is a too short interval to observe optimal sperm suppression, therefore longer studies are planned and, if the medication is effective, will move to larger studies and then perform tests on sexually active couples.
“Safe and reversible male hormonal contraception should be available in about 10 years,” Wang concludes, “11-beta-MNTDC mimics testosterone in the rest of the body, but it is not enough concentrated in the testes to support the production of testosterone. “
