Men have five birth control options available to them meant to work on their end: abstinence, condoms, outercourse, withdrawal and vasectomy. By 2017, another option, called Vasalgel, will hopefully be added to the list.
Vasalgel works similarly to a vasectomy in that it prevents the release of sperm. However, the two differ in that the former is reversible. A gel injected into the vas deferens, Vasalgel can be flushed out with another injection months or years after the first dose. With clinical trials on baboons successful, Parsemus Foundation is planning to begin human trials for the male birth control in 2015.
Vasalgel started development in 2010, drawing inspiration from the polymer contraceptive RISUG that Sujoy Guha made in India more than 15 years ago. Unfortunately, RISUG's clinical trial is open only to locals, prompting the Parsemus Foundation to develop its own version of the birth control method.
Rabbit studies were held for 12 months to explore the efficacy of Vasalgel. When desired results were achieved, researchers moved on to baboons as subjects. Three males were given Vasalgel and moved to separate enclosures, each with 10 to 15 females. In the course of six months, none of the females have gotten pregnant. A new baboon study was also started, this time enlisting five males. If results are again satisfactory, the Parsemus Foundation will be gearing up for a clinical trial involving humans.
Sounds promising, right?
The Parsemus Foundation just has a few more obstacles to pass before Vasalgel makes its way to the market.
First, there's the issue of funding. As a not-for-profit, Parsemus Foundation relies on crowdfunding and donations to keep Vasalgel development going. Recently, however, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation approved a generous grant amounting to $50,000, which will go into supporting the new study with baboons. The Parsemus Foundation just needs $27,000 more to cover all expenses for the clinical trials.
Second, the medical industry's not too keen on going against their multibillion-dollar investment in the female birth control market, which Vasalgel will cut into once it is made available. Not even when the male birth control method could translate to major medical improvements in women's health.
Should Vasalgel gain enough support and produce enough demand for male birth control, pharmaceutical companies and the public could be singing a different tune in a couple of years.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost half of U.S. pregnancies are unintended.
