Reversible male contraception by blocking ALDH1A in men
Official title: Reversible Male Contraception via Inhibition of ALDH1A
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11451185 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, non-hormonal pill called KyA84 would temporarily reduce sperm production in men and then allow fertility to return after stopping the pill.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,726,293 |
| NIH project number | 1P50HD123281-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11451185 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men who are healthy or have conditions suitable for first-in-human contraceptive trials and who consent to early-phase PK, safety, and sperm-count assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not seeking contraception or those with contraindications to ALDH inhibitors may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing KyA84, an ALDH1A inhibitor, into its first human studies to see if it can safely and reversibly reduce sperm production. The plan includes finishing GMP manufacturing, conducting a safe first-in-human dose study in men, and a subsequent dose-escalation study to check sperm counts and testicular health. Parallel animal studies will help choose safe doses and confirm that the effect can be reversed. Researchers will also explore biomarkers to predict and measure contraceptive effectiveness in people and animals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide men with a non-hormonal, reversible option for contraception.
How similar studies have gone: This is a first-in-human effort for a reversible, non-hormonal male contraceptive via ALDH1A inhibition, with supporting data from nonclinical studies suggesting reversibility.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amory, John K. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Amory, John K.
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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.