A decades-old male contraceptive invention that has undergone several trials may soon see a commercial launch, after the country’s regulators have formally seen that it is reversible.
Risug, an injectable molecule that forms a polymer in the testicles to prevent sperm transport, was developed in the 1980s by IIT Delhi professor Sujoy K. Guha. It has been through many trials, says R.S. Sharma, the Head of Reproductive Health at the Indian Council of Medical Research. Dr. Sharma told The Hindu that the molecule’s efficiency is beyond question and it has also shown to have been reversible in primates. “We expect it will be reversible in humans as well. I have conducted 23 studies with this molecule and we have seen how efficient it is. Subjects have been followed for 13 years,” he said, on the sidelines of the World Congress on Reproductive Health, held at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.
Dr. Sharma said besides the reversible studies, a Phase III B clinical trial would be held, after which it is likely that the molecule could be commercially launched within the next five years. Clinical trials for a recombinant beta-HCG hormone-based female contraceptive are also likely to begin soon, he revealed. “I have been working with both these contraceptives for many years. Their commercial launch is a big achievement for India,” he said, adding that currently, there are no reversible contraceptive techniques for men.
The 3-day congress, which concluded on Sunday, saw discussions on many aspects of reproductive health, including assisted reproduction and its regulation, infertility and common metabolic disorders.
