Gates Foundation supports male Pill research
SCIENTISTS in Manchester and Bonn have secured financial backing from Bill Gates’ foundation to develop a form of unisex contraception.
The team has received a £100,000 grant from the foundation to explore a new way of controlling fertility that does not involve hormones.
Ultimately, the discovery could lead to the production of a pill for both sexes.
Prof Ludwig Neyses, a clinical research lead at Manchester Royal Infirmary, made the breakthrough while conducting tests on mice to better undertstand human heart failure.
He noticed that when he deleted a gene that pumps calcium in the heart as well as the testis the mice did not produce litters and the sperm of the males was immobile.
The scientists are now working on adapting a molecule within the calcium pump. The compound’s efficacy is being tested by scientists Ulrich Kaupp and Timo Struenker at the CAESAR Institute in Bonn.
Prof Neyses said: “We are very excited that our discovery could lead to the development of a new form of contraception which is cheap to produce and has no side effects. Women would just need to apply the gel once a month to obtain long-lasting protection against pregnancy.
“In future, a pill containing such a pump inhibitor could be used for non-hormonal contraception in both sexes providing opportunities for contraception by both partners.”
Dr Tachi Yamada, president of Bill Gate’s Foundation’s Global Health Program, said: “These are bold ideas from innovative thinkers, which is exactly what we need in global health research right now. I’m excited to see some of these daring projects develop into life-saving breakthroughs for those who need them the most.”
