Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Embryospin (Increasing IVF success rate through the first magnetic resonance system for embryonic quantitative analysis at the cell scale)
Período documentado: 2018-12-01 hasta 2019-05-31
The unprecedented sensitivity of Embryospin makes it also extremely useful for research labs and universities, enabling new potential discoveries and applications.
The Phase 1 Project objectives are:
Technical Feasibility:
• Goal 1: Definition of the final features of the NMR device;
• Goal 2: Description of the laboratory tests performed on the Measuring Unit, prototypes, casing and probe insert. Definition of a set of markers to ensure the highest accuracy and effectiveness during the analysis;
• Goal 3: Definition of the measuring protocol;
• Goal 4: Certification of materials biocompatibility;
Business Feasibility:
• Goal 1: Validation of the expected benefits, of the pricing, and the distribution network;
• Goal 2: Market Analysis: estimation of the potential demand and understanding of the entry barriers;
• Goal 3: Financial projections.
• Goal 1 - Definition of the final features of the NMR device:
During the phase 1 project, the proposed technology has been validated by means of interactions with key stakeholders. As a result, the final attributes and specifications for the main blocks that compose the Embryospin solution have been defined;
• Goal 2 - Description of the laboratory tests performed on the Measuring Unit, prototypes, casing and probe insert. Definition of a set of markers to ensure the highest accuracy and effectiveness during the analysis:
Several tests have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the Embryospin solution, with particular reference to embryo’s metabolism.
• Goal 3 - Definition of the measuring protocol:
During the phase 1 project, there were several interactions with embryologists from IVF clinics, which represent Annaida’s potential key customers, in order to define a measuring protocol, which is in line with their best practices related to embryo manipulation.
• Goal 4 - Certification of materials biocompatibility:
Tests to certify the safety of materials have been successfully conducted using standard Mouse Embryo Assays
Business Feasibility:
• Goal 1 - Validation of the expected benefits, of the pricing, and the distribution network:
The Embryospin’s business model have been validated by means of interactions with key stakeholders. As a result, the Embryospin’s value proposition and Annaida’s value chain have been defined.
• Goal 2 - Market Analysis: estimation of the potential demand and understanding of the entry barriers:
A market analysis has been performed, estimating the Embryospin addressable and obtainable market. By means of interactions with prospected customers, the main entry barriers have been identified, finding the associated counteractions.
• Goal 3 - Financial projections:
Multi-annual economic and financial projections have been outlined, in order to derive economic indicators that can support the investment decision.
• Unprecedented sensitivity: exploiting micro-NMR potential, Embryospin allows quantitative analysis of embryo metabolites such as glucose and lactate, creating new markers for embryo selection and improving IVF success rate;
• Safe embryo analysis: NMR analysis offered by Embryospin is a completely non-invasive and safe technique;
• Ease of use: the Embryospin device is very user friendly and can be operated with minimal training. The results of analysis are instantly displayed on the connected computer, allowing fast selection processes
Socio-economic impact and societal implications of the project include:
• To patients and NHSs: A significantly increased success rate at first IVF cycle, which leads to huge savings for patients and NHSs
• To patients: Increased pregnancy rate after a single IVF cycle, which is poised to have a huge societal impact, by considerably decreasing the time-to-pregnancy, avoiding the emotional stress related to a failed attempt, and the physical stress due to undergoing several treatment cycles.
• To IVF clinics: Increased reputation for IVF clinics, which will be able to offer their patients a more effective treatment with a significantly higher success rate at first cycle. During our interactions with IVF clinics, it has emerged that an increased success rate can attract a wider customer base, which is extremely important in a highly competitive market as the ART