Researchers Sign Deal To Develop Male Birth Control Pill
Method Targets Protein Found In Sperm Cells
POSTED: 6:33 am CST February 1, 2005
BOSTON -- The University of Massachusetts Medical School has signed a licensing agreement with a Norwegian company that wants to develop a male birth control pill.
The research could lead to a drug that could block sperm's ability to swim and fertilize an egg. The method that led to the long-term deal could expand the decades-long search for a male pill by targeting a protein found only in sperm cells. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester and elsewhere said that approach carries far less risk of side effects than manipulating a man's hormones. Risks from hormone therapy include harming the prostate gland and permanently reversing sperm production."The world is greatly in need of a better male contraceptive that is reversible, and I'm hopeful our partnering with SpermaTech will help meet this need," said George B. Witman, a professor of cell biology at the university. "Because this protein is found only in sperm cells, blocking its action shouldn't have any side effects, and that makes this a very exciting drug target." Terms of the deal with Oslo-based SpermaTech AS aimed at developing a drug based on the UMass-patented contraception approach were not disclosed.Bjorn Steen Skalhegg, one of SpermaTech's founders, said they can't say how long it will be before a male birth control pill is available.
Survey: The research could lead to a drug that could block sperm's ability to swim and fertilize an egg. The method that led to the long-term deal could expand the decades-long search for a male pill by targeting a protein found only in sperm cells. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester and elsewhere said that approach carries far less risk of side effects than manipulating a man's hormones. Risks from hormone therapy include harming the prostate gland and permanently reversing sperm production."The world is greatly in need of a better male contraceptive that is reversible, and I'm hopeful our partnering with SpermaTech will help meet this need," said George B. Witman, a professor of cell biology at the university. "Because this protein is found only in sperm cells, blocking its action shouldn't have any side effects, and that makes this a very exciting drug target." Terms of the deal with Oslo-based SpermaTech AS aimed at developing a drug based on the UMass-patented contraception approach were not disclosed.Bjorn Steen Skalhegg, one of SpermaTech's founders, said they can't say how long it will be before a male birth control pill is available.
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