The sentinel issue surrounding multiple gestations and IVF is the inability to precisely estimate the reproductive potential of an individual embryo. Failure rates for IVF remain high. On average, only 25-30% of embryo transfers result in a pregnancy. In addition, the rate of multiple gestations associated with IVF remains high because practitioners continue to perform multiple embryo transfers (MET) to maintain or enhance pregnancy rates. There are significant maternal and neonatal risks associated with multiple gestations. As a result, there is now significant pressure to move towards single embryo transfer (SET), yet currently available technologies are suboptimal and do little to assist the practitioner in responding to this pressure. Therefore, there is a tremendous need for novel biomarkers that will enable the physicians' effective embryo selection - a need for a rapid, non-invasive, and accurate method for assisting in embryo viability assessment
Importance to society: Assisting unfertile couples in achieving pregnancy and having healthy baby will have dramatic contribution to society. One of six couples suffers from fertility problems. Only a small percentage of these couples seek treatment. Infertile couples’ number increases with growing age of marriage, pollution and unhealthy nutrition. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) has been utilized by couples when faced with difficulties in conceiving naturally. Since IVF’s conception and first-usage however, fertilization of an embryo still sits at a lowly 25% rate of fertilization, in spite of multiple embryos being utilized in the procedure to increase the chances of fertilization. Using Fertissimo’s capabilities will contribute to reduced fatality and complications risk to patient and pre-conceived child through the elimination of multiple conceptions (when several IVF transfers are carried out to increase the rate of fertilization); to reduced financial cost to patient and health care system as only a single embryo transfer (SET) would be required, and birthing would be carried out only for a single child.
The main Objectives were: 1) Elaboration of a comprehensive and sound business plan, 2) identification and contact with business and/or technical partners, 3) elaboration of a clinical trials scheme, and 4) elaboration of an industrialization development plan (“Phase 2 implementation plan”).
