Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a promising non-hormonal male contraceptive by targeting a protein, STK33, crucial for sperm functionality. Their study revealed that the new compound, CDD-2807, effectively reduces sperm mobility and numbers in mice without significant side effects, and the contraceptive effect is reversible. In the past six decades, the global population has surged more than 260%, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Estimates suggest that by 2037, Earth’s population will climb from 8 billion in 2022 to 9 billion. This continued growth highlights the critical importance of family planning. Despite this need, there have been few significant advancements in contraceptive options recently, particularly for men, who still lack access to an oral contraceptive pill.
In a study published in the journal Science , researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions show in animal models that a novel, non-hormonal sperm-specific approach offers a promising option for reversible human male contraception. “Although researchers have been investigating several strategies to develop male contraceptives, we still do not have a birth control pill for men,” said corresponding author Dr. Martin Matzuk, director of the Center for Drug Discovery and chair of the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor.
“In this study, we focused on a novel approach – identifying a small molecule that would inhibit serine/threonine.
