Micheal O'Rand and his research team at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at OHSU discovered a potential "male pill" named EP055 which could bind to sperm proteins and significantly slow down its mobility with no effects to other hormones, leading to nil side effects.

"Simply put, the compound turns-off the sperm's ability to swim, significantly limiting fertilization capabilities; this makes EP055 an ideal candidate for non-hormonal male contraception," stated Michael O'Rand, PhD, 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.

At present, condoms and vasectomy are the only birth control methods available for men. Even though many male hormonal drugs target the production of sperm, they also affect the natural hormones in men.

"At 18 days post-infusion, all macaques showed signs of complete recovery, suggesting that the EP055 compound is indeed reversible," said study co-investigator Mary Zelinski, PhD, research associate professor at the ONPRC at OHSU and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the OHSU School of Medicine.

O'Rand and his team further announced that more work was needed before EP055 becomes commercialized. They are planning on conducting a mating trial of EP055's effectiveness against pregnancy but this is currently pending.