3 ms·

SO I just checked the Parsemus foundation website and this is their first line describing Vasalgel: > VasalgelTM is a long-acting, nonhormonal contraceptive wi

SO I just checked the Parsemus foundation website and this is their first line describing Vasalgel: > VasalgelTM is a long-acting, nonhormonal contraceptive with a significant advantage over vasectomy: it is likely to be more reversible. "It is likely to be more" does not sound very reassuring.

giarc 9y ago
This is medical speak, can't say "100% reversible" if it isn't exactly "100% reversible".
- sp332 9y ago
  Without FDA approval, they are not allowed to market it as treating almost anything medical.
bunderbunder 9y ago
They have to be very careful about what they say in public, because they are trying to get FDA approval, and the FDA is (for good reason) twitchy about medical product manufacturers saying things that haven't been proven out through a strict testing process. Right now, since they have a limited budget, they're just focusing on doing the studies they need to do to get approval for marketing it as a non-reversible contraceptive. Getting approval to market it as being reversible will come later. IIRC, all of this is explained on their website, possibly in the FAQ. Edit: Yeah, more or less. From the FAQ -- "The idea is to develop a fully reversible long-acting male contraceptive, and recently-completed rabbit studies showed rapid restoration of sperm flow. This was accomplished by flushing the Vasalgel from the vas deferens with an injection of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution. Additional reversibility studies must be completed before Vasalgel can be marketed as a reversible male contraceptive."
cosmiccartel 9y ago
In a study on rabbits, all seven were successfully reversed after 14 months. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-04/pf-sro033117.php https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-04/pf-sro033117...
- joekrill 9y ago
  Not quite as successful in larger mammals, though: https://www.parsemus.org/contraceptives/reversal-whats-status/ https://www.parsemus.org/contraceptives/reversal-whats-statu...
heneryville 9y ago
Vasagel has had no reversibility studies so they cannot make a firm claim that it is reversible. It would take many additional years to prove that. They're targeting demonstrating that it is safe first, releasing to market, then studying reversibility at a later date.
xkcd-sucks 9y ago
Could they get it approved as a "chemical vasectomy" and get to the reversal later? It's already better than the state of the art because there's no surgery
- dpark 9y ago
  That’s what they are pursuing with trials now. Efficacy as a contraception is proven in animal models and they’re pushing for human studies of that.

giarc 9y ago

This is medical speak, can't say "100% reversible" if it isn't exactly "100% reversible".

sp332 9y ago
Without FDA approval, they are not allowed to market it as treating almost anything medical.

bunderbunder 9y ago

They have to be very careful about what they say in public, because they are trying to get FDA approval, and the FDA is (for good reason) twitchy about medical product manufacturers saying things that haven't been proven out through a strict testing process. Right now, since they have a limited budget, they're just focusing on doing the studies they need to do to get approval for marketing it as a non-reversible contraceptive. Getting approval to market it as being reversible will come later. IIRC, all of this is explained on their website, possibly in the FAQ. Edit: Yeah, more or less. From the FAQ -- "The idea is to develop a fully reversible long-acting male contraceptive, and recently-completed rabbit studies showed rapid restoration of sperm flow. This was accomplished by flushing the Vasalgel from the vas deferens with an injection of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution. Additional reversibility studies must be completed before Vasalgel can be marketed as a reversible male contraceptive."

cosmiccartel 9y ago

In a study on rabbits, all seven were successfully reversed after 14 months. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-04/pf-sro033117.php https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-04/pf-sro033117...

joekrill 9y ago
Not quite as successful in larger mammals, though: https://www.parsemus.org/contraceptives/reversal-whats-status/ https://www.parsemus.org/contraceptives/reversal-whats-statu...

heneryville 9y ago

Vasagel has had no reversibility studies so they cannot make a firm claim that it is reversible. It would take many additional years to prove that. They're targeting demonstrating that it is safe first, releasing to market, then studying reversibility at a later date.

xkcd-sucks 9y ago

Could they get it approved as a "chemical vasectomy" and get to the reversal later? It's already better than the state of the art because there's no surgery

dpark 9y ago
That’s what they are pursuing with trials now. Efficacy as a contraception is proven in animal models and they’re pushing for human studies of that.