India closer to world’s first male contraceptive injection

NEWDELHI: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has successfully completed clinical trials of the world’s first injectable male contraceptive, which has been sent to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) f or approval, according t o researchers involved in the project.

The contraceptive is effective for 13 years, after which it loses its potency. It is designed as a replacement for surgical vasectomy, which is the only male sterilisation method available in the world.

“The product is ready, with only regulatory approvals pending with the Drugs Controller. The trials are over, including extended, phase 3 clinical trials for which 303 candidates were recruited with 97.3% success rate and no reported side-effects. The product can safely be called

the world’s first male contraceptive,” said Dr RS Sharma, senior scientist with ICMR, who has been spearheading the trials.

ICMR is the apex body in India for biomedical research. It is funded by the Indian government through the department of medical research at the Union ministry of health and family welfare.

While researchers in the US

“The product is ready, with only regulatory approvals pending. The trials are over, including extended, phase 3 clinical trials for which 303 candidates were recruited with 97.3% success rate. It can safely be called the world’s first male contraceptive”

– DR RS SHARMA, ICMR scientist

were working on a similar contraceptive, it is still under development.

According to an article published on the website of the UK’S National Health Service, a trial for the male contraceptive was conducted in 2016 but it had to be stopped because of side effects. “Side effects like acne and mood changes were common,” it said.