A compound called EP055 binds to sperm proteins and significantly slows the overall motility of the sperm without affecting hormones.
The finding, which appear in PLOS ONE, suggest EP055 could be a candidate for contraceptive pill for men that’s free of side effects.
“Simply put, the compound turns-off the sperm’s ability to swim, significantly limiting fertilization capabilities,” says lead investigator Michael O’Rand, retired professor of cell biology and physiology in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, and president/CEO of Eppin Pharma, Inc. “This makes EP055 an ideal candidate for non-hormonal male contraception.”
