On Mar. 26, 2025, research from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, published in Communications Medicine, laid the groundwork for the first hormone-free male birth control pill to enter clinical trials. 

The new drug, called YCT-529, is a first-in-class, hormone-free and orally administered male contraceptive. Developed in collaboration with Columbia University in New York and YourChoice Therapeutics, YCT-529 works as a contraceptive by stopping the production of sperm.

The research found that in male mice, the drug caused infertility and was 99% effective in preventing pregnancies within four weeks of use. In male non-human primates, the drug lowered sperm counts within two weeks of starting the drug.

Both mice and non-human primates fully regained fertility after stopping the drug. Mice regained fertility within six weeks, and non-human primates fully recovered their sperm count in 10-15 weeks. No side effects from the drug were detected in either group. 

The research established that YCT-529 was suitable for human studies, and a phase 1 clinical trial for the drug was completed successfully in 2024 by YourChoice Therapeutics. The drug is currently undergoing safety and efficacy testing in a second clinical trial.