Well, maybe– and maybe not. While it’s an important scientific
advance, this is also very early-stage research, the kind that
may or may not ever make it to market. In short, the researchers
found a drug called JQ1 that shuts off sperm production in mice–
and though it’s just mice, that’s already more advanced than
many studies that are reported as big news. Many studies
claiming to a big deal basically say “we found a gene/ ion
channel/ whatever that is key for sperm production/function. Now
if we can just find a drug to affect it! We’re looking hard! And
then we’ll need to see what else the drug happens to do to men
and whether it’s safe. Check back in 5 or 10 years!” These
researchers, by contrast, are a step ahead: they have already
found a drug that works in mice, called JQ1, that they
discovered while working on cancer. But not all drugs that work
in mice work in humans, as was discovered to great
disappointment with another promising male contraceptive lead,
Zavesca. And even if it works, it will take