On-demand male birth control that temporarily stops sperm movement
Development of new ADCY10 inhibitors
Testing new drugs that briefly block a sperm enzyme to create a short-acting, on‑demand male contraceptive pill.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11101392 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to make short-acting drugs that block soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), an enzyme sperm need to move and mature so they can fertilize an egg. Researchers will design and refine new chemical scaffolds different from earlier leads, using structure-based drug design and laboratory functional tests. Compounds will be optimized for potency, selectivity, long binding times, and drug-like properties and tested in preclinical assays and animal models. The ultimate goal is a pill taken shortly before sex that prevents sperm from working for hours without causing long-term side effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Healthy men seeking temporary, reversible contraception who want an on‑demand option taken shortly before sex would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People seeking permanent sterilization, women, or men whose infertility arises from causes unrelated to the sperm enzyme targeted here would not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could produce a reversible, on‑demand male birth control pill that prevents fertilization for hours without long-term mechanism-based side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Related sAC inhibitor chemistry has shown effectiveness in preclinical animal models, and this project builds on validated work while developing structurally distinct new compounds.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buck, Jochen — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Buck, Jochen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.