Project description
Nuclear magnetic resonance makes a mark on fertility treatment
The success of in vitro fertilisation largely relies on selecting the embryo with the highest likelihood of developing into a healthy baby. This remains a challenge for doctors, who count on insufficient or costly methods such as microscope examination or biopsy, respectively. With a small percentage of IVF attempts resulting in a successful pregnancy, there is a need for superior screening options. Supported by the EU-funded Embryospin project, Annaida Technologies have developed a novel solution for fast and non-invasive embryo screening: a ground-breaking device that performs microscopic nuclear magnetic resonance at a scale 10 times better than existing technologies and can provide results for up to 10 embryos in one hour. The technique is set to increase the success of the fertility treatment while also cutting costs for the couples undergoing IVF.
Objective
Today 1 out of 6 couples turn to the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technique to fulfil their desire of starting a family. Despite decades of research and high costs, the success rate of IVF remains frustratingly low (33%). A key factor in determining the IVF success is the embryo screening to determine viability. Surprisingly enough, embryo selection is currently performed through optical analysis with a microscope, that is a purely morphological, qualitative assessment that provides no reliable insights on embryo viability. Other available techniques are costly and invasive, since require the use of chemical labels or even a tissue biopsy.
Annaida Technologies has developed Embryospin, a patent-filed device that performs microscopic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (microNMR) at a scale of 100 microns, a 10-fold improvement over existing technologies. Annaida will develop and commercialize an NMR bench-top device, coupled with a disposable microNMR sensor able to screen up to 10 embryos in less than an hour. The technology is poised to radically increase the IVF laboratories’ success rates, thus ensuring significant savings to infertile couples and also to National Healthcare Systems that subsidize IVF costs, like France, Belgium and Germany.
The Phase 1 project will be a launch pad for the future commercialization of the system, enabling to validate the Embryospin performances and the market opportunity, determine the most suitable pricing strategy, and refine the business plan to attract the future investment needed for scaling up the production.
The following step will be to proceed with system engineering and preparation to the in-field validation (Phase 2) together with large prospective customers, which will pave the way to the beginning of the commercialization phase in 2021.
Fields of science
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinegynaecologyreproductive medicine
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopy
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineobstetrics
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineembryology
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.