Contraceptive developed by IIT-Kharagpur professor tackles baldness

It's a male contraceptive that can prevent baldness, regenerate hair and prevent prostrate cancer.

Trust Sujoy K. Guha, a professor at IIT-Kharagpur, and his team that has upgraded the RISUG contraceptive to this end. The drug, originally developed at IIT-Kharagpur by Guha, has moved a notch up by using a technology - a first in the world - that will generate a new nano drug inside the human body.

The project was funded by the ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the research was coordinated by the Indian Council of Medical Research Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance (RISUG), now in the last leg of its trials, is slated for a restricted, monitored launch by the end of this year. It is a non-hormonal, polymerbased, long-duration male contraceptive, formerly called the synthetic polymer styrene maleic anhydride (SMA). The research work on RISUG, under the leadership of Guha, began in 1971.

With the new technology developed by Guha, RISUG now has two new variants - Risugadv or Risug-PH. After a local anaesthesia, the drug is injected in vas deferens - the vessel through which sperm moves. Once it is injected, Risug, Risugadv or Risug-PH will remain active for 10 years or more.

The chemical compound in the drug will manufacture the nano drug inside the body, Guha said.

"While the injected drug would act as a male contraceptive, the nano drug compound will have beneficial effects such as preventing baldness, regeneration of hair, prevention of prostrate cancer and managing prostrate enlargement. The nano drug compound has been named Invivgensome," he said.

Compared to other male contraceptives, like condoms or pills, RISUG is hassle-free. Men can leave the hospital immediately after an injection and resume their normal sex life within a week.