The First Baby Conceived Using Groundbreaking Fertility Technology is Born

A revolutionary fertility technique that uses stem cells to aid embryo maturation outside the human body has led to the birth of the world’s first baby conceived through this method. Gameto, the company behind this breakthrough, highlights that the process is quicker, safer, and more accessible compared to traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Since the introduction of IVF in 1978, which resulted in the birth of the first “test tube baby,” the procedure has helped millions of individuals overcome fertility challenges. However, IVF is not without its complications and drawbacks.

Introducing Fertilo: A Promising Alternative

Gameto, a biotech company committed to improving women’s reproductive health, has developed an alternative called Fertilo. The company claims that this new method addresses many of the limitations associated with conventional IVF. Recently, the first baby conceived using Fertilo was successfully born, marking a significant milestone in reproductive medicine.

We are thrilled to celebrate the world’s first live birth conceived with Fertilo,” said Dr. Dina Radenkovic, CEO and co-founder of Gameto. “By addressing major challenges such as lengthy treatment cycles, significant side effects, and the emotional and physical toll of traditional IVF, Fertilo offers families a potentially faster, safer, and more accessible solution. This achievement represents a transformative moment in reproductive health and underscores the immense potential of iPSC [induced pluripotent stem cell] technology in fertility treatments.”

How Traditional IVF Works

In traditional IVF, doctors harvest mature eggs from the ovaries and fertilize them with sperm in a laboratory. They culture the fertilized eggs (embryos) for about five days before transferring them to the uterus to attempt pregnancy. Before this process, patients undergo ovarian stimulation, which requires receiving one or two hormone injections daily, totaling up to 90 injections per treatment cycle. A complete IVF cycle typically spans two to three weeks.

IVF has its limitations. Success is not guaranteed, and there is a risk of multiple pregnancies, which carry additional complications. Hormone injections can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a condition that makes the ovaries swollen and painful. The process also places significant physical and emotional stress on patients, with frequent medical appointments, injections, and the constant anxiety of awaiting pregnancy results. Financially, IVF is expensive; in the United States, the base cost of a single cycle ranges from $14,000 to $20,000. In Australia, government subsidies reduce the out-of-pocket cost to approximately $3,800 per cycle, with subsequent cycles costing around $5,300.

How Fertilo Simplifies the Process

Fertilo offers a streamlined approach by utilizing ovarian support cells (OSCs) derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These OSCs are co-cultured with immature eggs to replicate the natural maturation process in a laboratory setting. Research conducted in 2023 demonstrated that this method significantly enhances egg maturation and embryo formation. Gameto reports that Fertilo eliminates 80% of the hormone injections required for conventional IVF and reduces the treatment duration to just three days.

The ability to mature eggs outside the body with minimal hormonal intervention greatly reduces risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and minimizes the side effects caused by high hormone doses,” said Dr. Luis Guzmán, head of Pranor Laboratories in Peru, who oversaw the Fertilo procedure that led to this groundbreaking birth. “Fertilo is a significant advancement for women who cannot tolerate or prefer to avoid the burdens of traditional IVF protocols. It offers new hope and possibilities to a broader range of patients.”

A Grateful Mother’s Perspective

The mother of the first “Fertilo baby,” born at Santa Isabel Clinic in Lima, Peru, expressed her gratitude. “Compared to traditional methods, the Fertilo approach was the ideal choice,” she said. “With fewer injections and a less invasive egg retrieval process, it provided me with hope and comfort during this deeply personal journey. Fertilo’s innovative approach eased the physical demands and reduced the emotional stress of undergoing numerous hormone injections. I am profoundly grateful to Pranor Clinic and Gameto for making my dream of having a family a reality.”

Recently, Gameto announced a partnership with IVFAustralia, an IVF clinic network, to make the Fertilo procedure available at select locations across Australia. The company has already obtained regulatory approval for the technique in countries such as Australia, Japan, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, and Peru. Preparations for Phase 3 trials in the United States are currently underway, potentially paving the way for its introduction there.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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